Lots of buzz in the office yesterday as eleven bright minds from Rowan University’s College of Science & Mathematics visited to present their semester’s work participating in Rowan’s Field Experience Course. This unique program, in collaboration with RunSignup, presents students with real-world business challenges to tackle using their software engineering expertise. With support from RunSignup and their professor Jack Myers, these students receive invaluable guidance and mentorship as they navigate through the process of solving complex problems and producing a real software deliverable.
The Challenge
This year’s challenge was to extend RunSignup’s Photo Platform by developing a Mobile App that could be used to stream photos and video directly from the race in real time. A solution like this would allow race directors to stream photos from the finish line or other checkpoints around the race as the action happens. You can imagine that a capability like this coupled with RunSignup’s auto bib tagging could be used to instantly share race photos with participants seconds after they cross the finish line! The video streaming function was designed to communicate with YouTube enabling live video streams as well as an easy way for race directors to save a video for backup purposes.
In addition to these base features, students had to design an entire app menu system, learn new technologies like React, and use the RunSignup API to search and select races, albums, and upload photos. They also learned how to leverage YouTube’s API for video streaming. Lastly, the app was designed to recover from inconsistent network connections that might be encountered in the field with the ability to save photos in offline mode and upload them when a connection is reestablished.
This year two teams both worked independently on solutions. The course uses Agile practices as a framework for how the team should operate. Both teams completed the project requirements and presented their solutions to the RunSignup engineering team at our Moorestown office. RunSignup is considering using the student’s work as a prototype for adding streaming features into the RaceDay Mobile Timing app.
Here are this year’s Rowan teams.
Team Hippos
Team Caracals
If you are wondering why they are all holding up their wrists, they are showing off the personalized friendship bracelets presented to each of them by teammate Jasmine. NICE! Seems like some bonding happened with this group.
Continued Partnership with Universities
RunSignup puts a high value on getting involved with local universities. This is the third such Rowan project that RunSignup has sponsored. Last year we sponsored the Leaderboard App project. In 2021 we sponsored the Mobile Timing App Project which was later productized by our EventDay development team and added as a brand new addition to our world class RaceDay suite of products. Check out the RaceDay Mobile Timing App Announcement and Video Demo.
We value the “full-circle” partnership that we can have with a local university. Partnerships like the one we have with Rowan give us an opportunity to give back to the engineering community while getting to know emerging talent. We typically have 5 coop or intern positions working side by side with our professional development team and many of them land full-time positions upon graduation. Our last three hires in development came out of our university intern program. Joshua Samontanez joined us in January from the University of Central Florida. Duy Nguyen and Matthew Brady have both recently joined as recent graduates from Rowan University. (Actually graduation is next week but they assured us they will be walking. Congratulations guys!)
Photos from Demos at RunSignup HQ
