Custom Social Network Development

Executive Networks

The Client:
With a 25-year legacy as a leading provider of executive peer networks, Executive Networks is focused on building the world's foremost constellation of executive peer networks.

The Project:
Networking as a professional at the top of your industry is so difficult that Executive Networks has built a business around it. Arck has partnered with EN to streamline their online/offline workflows and map their business intelligence into a user-friendly, community interface.

Built Using:
Elgg 1.8, Salesforce, jQuery

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Speech Pathology

The Client:
SpeechPathology.com is a recognized leader in online professional development and career center resources for the speech-language pathology profession throughout the U.S. and Canada. This company has a virtual office employing approximately 30 full-time individuals throughout the United States for both SpeechPathology.com and AudiologyOnline. Each team member works from a home office environment. The company utilizes VoIP, instant messenger, email, eLearning classrooms, and online collaboration tools to communicate on a daily basis.

The Project:
Online learning is booming these days. Speech Pathology has been at the front of this wave and has brought us on to create a community social network to bring their students, teachers and staff together in a meaningful way.

Built Using:
Elgg 1.8

Nova Democracia

The Client:
ND is an emerging political party that seeks to be the second major political party in Angola by using social networking to mobilize Angola's increasingly connected and politically conscious youth. They aim to overcome an 82% representation of the MPLA, that has been governing since independency of Angola in 1975. The President of Angola has been in power since 1979. All that said, they demand a peaceful revolution via elections and a ballot.

The Project:
Yeah, you guessed it. We're excited to bring the full range of our experience down on this one with passion.

Built Using:
Elgg 1.8, Wordpress, jQuery

Loyola High School
Cubview 2.0

The Client:
Loyola High School is a Los Angeles based private Jesuit preparatory school for young men. As the oldest continuously run educational institution in Southern California, Loyola High School remains committed to providing a rigorous college-preparatory education to a diverse group of young men who leave the school prepared for lives of leadership and service to their community.

The Project:
Cubview 2.0 is the second iteration of Loyola's learning network based on feedback we received from faculty and students after Cubview 1.0's first academic year. The new Cubview makes it easier than ever for students to find out what's going on at school and stay current. A dramatically streamlined user profile tells displays the activity students need to know and expect right away. Upcoming assignments are always visible in a persistent sidebar that's context sensitive. All menu items are easy to find in a consistent left-hand navigation column. Students can check their news feed, groups, files and messages all from one menu. Groups use the same navigation, making it easier to get around. Sports teams and followers can also get all of the info they need.

Built Using:
Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, jQuery, LDAP, Elgg

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Loyola High School
Cubview 1.0

The Client:
Loyola High School is a Los Angeles based private Jesuit preparatory school for young men. As the oldest continuously run educational institution in Southern California, Loyola High School remains committed to providing a rigorous college-preparatory education to a diverse group of young men who leave the school prepared for lives of leadership and service to their community.

The Project:
Working hand in hand with Loyola's super creative Director of Communications for nearly 6 months, we developed our fourth and largest custom social network to date, code-named "Cubview". Cubview, a private educational network, sought to answer the question: Can a custom social network pull a freshman's attention away from Facebook long enough to teach them about the history of WWII, during summer session, with a highly interactive blog?

The answer is an emphatic YES!

Built Using:
Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, jQuery, LDAP, Elgg

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World Bank Social Networks

The Client: The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Their mission is to fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results and to help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors. The World Bank, established in 1944, is headquartered in Washington, D.C. We have more than 10,000 employees in more than 100 offices worldwide.

The Project:
Design, develop and support the World Bank's 30,000 member internal and external Elgg-based social networks: Scoop and eScoop.

The Functionality (some of it):

Scoop Tag Cloug

• Enables the user to add multiple tags to a tag cloud based search.
• Functions based on context. i.e. (If the tag cloud is on a group page the tags will be from that group content only.)
• Search results from clicking that tag within the group will only surface that group's related content.
• The tag cloud within the search results page updates dynamically based on results from that tag search.
• The tag cloud is located in the left hand navigation of all pages Except for the profile and homepage which will be a widget.
• The tag cloud enables users to type in tags to a text field which will be entered in the panel below once they click apply. This helps users to add tags to their search that may not be listed in the tag cloud but are in the database.
• The bottom panel allows users to remove tags through a delete icon next to the tag word.
• The bottom panel defines the search results. No content surfaces that doesn't have all of the tags in the bottom panel in the result listings.
• When a user enters text in the text input the function adds suggestions and auto complete.

Save as Draft

• Automatically persists user content (blog posts, comments, pages, discussions, etc) at regular intervals defined by the site administrator.
• Allows users to view and recover their saved drafts.

Likes

• Allows users to "like" any user generated content on the site.
• Displays a count of users that "like" specific content that toggles a window showing a list of the actual users who "liked" the content.

Group Announcements

• Enables the group owner and admin to add multiple group announcements to their group homepage via a widget located above the description area on the right column of the group.
• Allows group owners and group admin to enter hyperlinks in the announcement post.
• Allows the group admin to choose how many announcements to display up to 6.
• Group owner and admin have the ability to edit and delete the announcements.
• The group announcement lists at what point it was posted (just now) (1 hour ago)
• All group members have the ability to minimize the announcements panel via a minimize icon located at the right side of the announcements bar.
• TinyMCE editor.

Built Using:
Elgg, Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, jQuery

The Vine
Social Networking Platform

The Client:
Grapevine Technologies' provides churches and non-profits a private, safe, secure, and trusted social media platform that empowers them to communicate more effectively, raise funds more efficiently, and broaden the reach of their ministries.

The Project:
Develop "The Vine" a SaaS based social networking platform to empower churches and non-profit organizations to communicate more effectively, raise funds more efficiently and broaden the reach of their ministries.

Built Using:
Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, Magento, jQuery

Request a demo account

Read the case study.

LSU Social Network

The Client: Louisiana State University's Department of Psychology is a vibrant, growing department with a history of excellence in research, teaching and service. They recently celebrated their 100-year anniversary!

The Project:
We were engaged to reate a custom social network designed to allow a select number of participants to exchange documents, media, communications and network connections, while allowing non-confidential data regarding their usage patterns (e.g., how often user log into the network site, when and what functions tend to use, how many people do they tend to exchange with, etc...) to be tracked and analyzed by LSU staff for research purposes.

The Functionality:
We created a social network with a custom analytics engine capable of tracking basic usage data via an interface similar to Google Analytics.

Built Using:
Elgg, PHP, XHTML.

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Dream University
Elgg Social Network

The Client: Dream University is the only university in the world dedicated entirely to helping people achieve their personal and professional dreams.

Their results-oriented courses, inspiring faculty, and caring community provide the tools and resources to empower you to succeed on your own terms.

The Project:
We just kicked off our relationship with Dream University. We'll be working together to improve their Elgg-based social network and infrastructure. Stay tuned for more.

Built Using:
Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, Elgg

Request a demo account

Check the site out!

WeLearn Social Network

The Client:
Trivantis Corporation

The Project:
WeLearn eLearning Social Network

Built Using:
Elgg, MySQL, PHP, jQuery

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Check the site out!

Wiley Faculty Network

The Client: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly fields.

The Project:
In cooperation with our rad agency partner, Garfield Group Interactive, we developed our third and largest elgg-based social network to date: The Wiley Faculty Network (WFN). WFN is a global community of faculty, connected by a passion for teaching and a drive to learn, share, and collaborate. Members connect to collaborate with colleagues, join professional and peer groups, find mentors, attend virtual and live events, and view a wealth of resources all designed to help them grow as educators.

The Functionality:
Functionality included: one-click login integration with Wiley's existing faculty system ProfVal; role-based access with custom profiles; intelligent dashboard widgets that suggest content to users based on their professional and personal interests; a custom content management system plugin allowing Wiley to deliver context and discipline specific content to users; a complete events management system; custom file/resource (documents, videos, audio) sharing; granular analytics and reporting; blogs, user groups and forums.

Built Using:
Elgg, MySQL, PHP, Zend, REST

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Child Finance
Social Network

The Client: Child and Youth Finance International is an international movement of experts from across the world - all dedicated to bringing financial access and financial education to children and youth across the world.

The Project:
Child Finance International Social Network.

Built Using:
Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, Elgg

Request a demo account

Check the site out!

Homeless World Cup

The Client: The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever. It has triggered and supports grass roots football projects in over 70 nations working with over 30,000 homeless and excluded people throughout the year.

The Project:
We’re ecstatic to announce the start of our very first pro bono project: a global social Intranet for our favorite non-profit organization, The Homeless World Cup. We’ll be using the popular open-source social platform, Elgg, to create a hybrid content management system/social network that will be used to connect the organization’s 70 global partners. The network will enable central communication and allow the organization to share best practices, files, photos and other media to help develop internal projects across the globe.

Built Using:
Elgg, XHTML, CSS, PHP/MySQL, Javascript

Clearspring RSS Widget

The Client: Quick Hit Football is an interactive, web-based football experience that lets you build, coach and manage your team to victory.

The Project:
We created a customizable Flash widget for deployment on Clearspring's content deliver framework (CDN). The widget allows editorial staff to showcase news feeds from the site across the Clearspring network. The widget is configurable via an XML file. Editorial staff can change the RSS feeds, images and headlines on-demand.

The Functionality:
We created a customizable Flash widget using the Clearspring content deliver framework. The widget is configurable via an XML file. Editorial staff can change the RSS feeds, images and headlines on-demand.

Built Using:
Clearspring, XHTML, XML, Flash, Actionscript, Javascript

Read the case study.

Arck JobTweets

The Client: Yours truly.

The Project:
Our developers got bored and job hungry one day and rolled an app that aggregates job listings from a variety of networks, so you don't have to hit them all.

The Functionality:
It pulls job postings and and presents them in a really simple interaface with multiple options for searching and filtering. It's ultra-alpha and totally philanthropic so please be nice.

Built Using:
Magic

Check it out!

Trivantis Community Forum

The Client: Cincinatti-based Trivantis Corporation is the leading developer of elearning software for authoring and content creation. Their flagship product, Lectora, blazed the trail in elearning as the first easy-to-use authoring software that made rapid elearning a reality. Before that, programmers were a regular part of the team creating training coursework for computer-based learning.

The Project:
In cooperation with Trivantis, we developed a stunning new community forum where the company's 10,000+ users communicate and collaborate about Trivantis' products. The project also included the development of a single sign-on interface allowing users to access other Trivantis' web sites without being bothered to log in twice. Finally, we migratedall user accounts, forums, threads, posts and other information from Trivantis' previous rails-based bulletin board.

The Functionality:
Functionality included: discussion forum/boards, wysiwyg html post editing, social bookmarking, events management, polls, article-based publishing, seo friendly URLs, single sign-on, data migration, granular analytics and reporting.

Built Using:
Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, Zend, REST

Check the site out!

Trivantis Corporation

The Client:
Trivantis Corporation

The Project:
Trivantis couldn't get enough of us the first time, so they came back for round two: Redesign and rearchitect their global web presence and implement Omniture's SiteCatalyst platform to track actionable sales and marketing metrics. We've completed the first phase. Check back soon and we'll let you know how the second phase went.

Built Using:
Drupal, jQuery, Ubercart, XHTML/CSS, JS

Check the site out!

Ravenswood Atelier Website

The Client: The Ravenswood Atelier is a school of traditional art, offering a highly structured drawing and patinging program that adheres to long-tested methods of analyzing and interpreting nature. Their step-by-step curriculum is rooted in 19th century practices of French academic artists whose methods and lineage are both employed and honored.

The Project:
Our designer (and classically trained painter), Christie Stewart, created a beautiful and unique web site and brand for the Ravenswood Atelier. The site features information about the Atelier's philosophy and mission as well as photo galleries for both faculty and students.

Built Using:
XHTML, Javascript.

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Croyten CMS

The Client:
Croyten is a leading and unique provider of robust, state-of-the art information technology, including: Business Intelligence, Usability and User Experience for B2B or B2C portals and web applications, Risk Management, and information Security solutions and services.

The Project:
We retrofitted Croyten's web site with the popular open-source content management system Drupal, giving them the ability to interactively add content and manage the top and left navigation on their site.

Built Using:
Drupal, Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, XHTML.

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Snap! eLearning Store

The Client:
Trivantis Corporation

The Project:
Snap! by Lectora eLearning Store

Built Using:
Magento, jQuery, PHP, NetSuite

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Tecnara Tools Online Catalog

The Client: Tecnara is a precision tool manufacturing company headquartered in Japan. Their products are manufactured in accordance with the Japanese principal of Kodawari, which means purposeful, unswerving progress. All of their products are built in line with this principal of total dedication to continuous improvement and meet the changing demands of machine tools.

The Project:
The Tecnara Tools website moved the company's entire paper catalog online. The site features a product datasheet download area for members that tracks business intelligence and analytics, a custom content management system that allows staff to add page content and manage users, user forums, company articles, and an administrative panel that allows staff to view reports on user and product activity.

Built Using:
XHTML, CSS, HTML, PHP/MySQL, PHPBB, Flash, Javascript

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Barr Harris Grief Center

The Client:
The Barr Harris Children's Grief Center provides short and long-term care and treatment to children who have lost a parent through death, divorce, or abandonment.

The Project:
Working with our close friend and award-winning designer, Steven Bialer, we redesigned the Grief Center's web site and implemented a popular CMS to allow the organization to easily update content.

Built Using:
Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, Drupal.

Crisp Wireless

The Client:
We were engaged by a design firm in New Jersey to mastermind the design and art direction for a redesign of Crisp Wireless' corporate site.

The Project:
We worked with our client to drive the overall design direction for Crisp's redesign project. The challenge was to communicate a number of critical selling points clearly and effectively while remaining consistent with the brand, and we rocked it. Just take a look around Chicago for the green campaign -- that's us.

Built Using:
Photoshop