Description:

This presentation explores the technical...and social...challenges inherent in building and operating a social network application, the Department of State's ExchangesConnect Online Video Contest, for an international audience. On the technical front, the presentation exposes how technical challenges were solved, from handling video uploads to streaming videos on demand. Then the presentation goes beyond the technical, to show how users interact with the features of social applications, for both good and ill. This section covers practical aspects such as reviewing videos before they go live, sub-contests, managing foreign-language content, handling "cheaters" who attempt to sway the rating system and influencing the behavior of users to achieve desired objectives.