FAQ

Q: How does this work?

We use four things from your personal page to suggest people to you whom you might be interested in talking to:

  • how far away they are from you
  • your topics of interest
  • how you want those topics to overlap with a conversation partner
  • your calendar availability for the next week

You can find these suggestions on your dashboard under "Your Suggestions."

From there, users who we suggest to you, and to whom you are suggested have access to the "about me" section, which you can also update from your personal page. You can then indicate your interest in further pursuing a conversation with another user by clicking on the "Interested?" checkbox. If the other user is also interested in you, and you're both ready for a connection, you'll be able to e-mail each other, either directly using your public e-mail address, or through Phoenix.

Q: I have a very regular schedule. Why do I have to keep putting in my calendar availabilities every week?

Even the most regular schedules are interrupted by things like holidays and vacations, the occasional sick day, or just in general not feeling like interacting with people. We want availabilities listed to be accurate, since other users get suggestions based on yours! In the case that someone hits a busy time of year or just doesn't feel up to talking, we want this app to reflect that by defaulting to no availabilities.

Additionally, to avoid suggesting someone to you who might only be able to meet three months from now, we will only suggest to you people who have availabilities that overlap with you in the upcoming seven days.

Q: The calendar won't let me select certain times today!

Time machines are a luxury item, so we don't allow people to mark availabilities for times that have already passed. We also won't suggest you to users if you have overlapping availabilities in the past.

Q: Your app is messed up! I don't have any available times to meet my current connection!

We connect two people who are interested in each other when they both have an overlap in availability in overlap. If those overlapping availabilities pass and there are no more, though, we won't just close your connection without your consent. If you'd like to meet up with someone who is available, you can close your connection. You'll still be able to interact with this person online via e-mail or through our app.

Q: What is this journal thing? Can people read it?

Other users can't read your journal. It's purely for you to be able to make notes. Did you feel kind of awkward talking to the person? Did you have a lot of fun? What do you think made these interactions the way they were? This journal also serves as a history of your past connections, when you made them, and when you closed them.

Q: What's up with the green?

It's a happy color, okay?

Q: Who are you guys, anyways?

We're just three nerds getting through MIT one day at a time. This is the final project for 6.170, also known as Software Studio, also known as "How to Be a Good Web Designer and Full-Stack Developer." We see people who are struggling every day to connect with others, and to feel like those connections are meaningful in the crazy whirlwind of life, especially life at MIT. We hope this app helps with that.