I am looking to develop a custom web-hosted app that’s both a Content Management System (for consumer-generated and uploaded content), Reporting Database (view data in different formats) and a Social Utility. We are the master site, with infinite User sub-sites that can be linked, with access/permissions. It behaves a lot like facebook, in the sense that facebook lets you enter information, upload files, link to other people’s profiles, and gives others more (or less) access to the things you want them to see.
Essentially, I want to provide users with an online Dashboard through which they can collect, store, manage and share different types of information. They can also export it, encrypted.
In some cases, their “information” will consists of things they type into different fields (like building an online journal and filling out “online forms”. In other cases, the information will be images, videos or audio files that users upload. (For uploaded files, I want there to be a Multimedia Management Center so that a user can “link” files to certain relevant items elsewhere in the database, or move the thumbnail images around easily, with a drag-and-drop approach. I am also curious to know whether it’s possible for images to be “faxed” directly into a web app. That would be a handy feature to have.
I would also like the user to be able to record videos with their webcam directly into the app, so that a separate file upload is not necessary. Is this even possible?
There needs to be sophisticated Search Functionality.
I may want the app to be able to aggregate from other sites, or import from other programs (such as Excel or Word), if this is feasible.
I will definitely want it to make use of the Twitter API, so I can monitor feedback (and maybe other APIs).
It might be nice to integrate with external sites (ie. google calendar), so user can easily jump from my site to some relevant system they use somewhere else.
Additionally, I will be interacting with my users by providing them with my own increasing knowledge base (Tips & Resources).
This will be a subscription-based application: software as a service.
The user interface MUST be gorgeous, intuitive. Ease-of-use is paramount.
Security is extremely important, and I have thoughts of making encryption a key part of the functionality. The only question is how to do this and still allow users to “see” their specific profiles, with all their stored information. This may not be feasible.
I will also want to develop an app for smartphones (ipod, droid).
In summary, I need to design the entire user experience from the ground up, develop the front and back ends. Ongoing maintenance, as the app will need to be continually improved and served up to its user base.
I want to talk in broad strokes about cost and timeline, doesn’t have to be 100% specific right now, but I need to know what I’m looking at immediately…. Both in terms up up-front design/development and ongoing services. I want to see costs split out, according to development phase or service being provided. I will not accept anything that has the appearance of “flat-rate-for-your-project”, because I need to fully understand what I am getting for my money. Thank you.
And…. Finally… I need to build prototype as soon as possible. So that’s Phase 1, with the assumption that the project will continue soon after into full-scale development.
I need servers and a data center in which to house everything (this part of the project must be in the United States, although development can happen anywhere). So if you have recommendations/offerings to make in this regard, please share with me. Again, cost must be discussed in broad (but realistic) terms.
I am also in the market for a chief technology officer, so there’s the possibility of that, separate from this project. Just putting it out there ☺
I indicated 10 Bidding Days for this project, during which time I can be reached with further questions.
Thank you in advance.
Warmly,
Tamira
