Media Moments

Note: This article is work in progress.

The ‘Meetup der Medieninformatik’ serves as an annual technical showcase hosted by the Media Informatics major at the Universität zu Lübeck. Here, technical prowess and creativity merge, unveiling ‘EMI-Projects’ from first-semester students and ‘bachelor projects’ from fifth-semester students. The event culminates in the ‘EMI-Award,’ recognizing excellence in first-semester projects.

The Media Moments web app, born from a ‘bachelor project’ during my undergraduate studies, is designed to showcase the EMI-Projects to the public. In 2024 the Media Moments will be publicly available on 14.02.2024 at app.emi-award.de.

Technical Components: Under the Hood

The technical backbone of Media Moments is powered by Vue.js 3 as its frontend framework. The interactive map, fueled by maplibre-gl-js, and Swiper, orchestrating slides in onboarding and station detail sites, form integral components. The backend transitioned between Strapi and Directus to adapt to evolving event requirements. Prioritizing practicality, the app ensures accessibility without mandatory registrations, utilizing an anonymous user with a randomized ID for features requiring central user management, all in accordance with privacy policies.

The app has iteratively optimized bundle sizes, adjusted dependencies, and implemented features like asynchronous loading and intelligent chunking. These changes cater to practical needs, ensuring smooth user experiences, especially in areas with limited mobile data.

Since its inception in 2018, the Media Moments web app has been a technical ally at the ‘Meetup der Medieninformatik.’ It facilitates engagement with projects, contributing to the technical vibrancy of the event and the media informatics community at the Universität zu Lübeck. With an annual audience of approximately 300-400 digital visitors, the app has seamlessly integrated into the event’s digital infrastructure, providing a user-friendly experience and fostering interaction with the showcased projects.