700278KatchUpClosedGRD Proof of MarketInnovate UKWe wish to investigate the development of a new platform that facilitates social networking in a much more private way. Whilst most social networking sites focus on data analytics, advertising and technology which drive ever growing data leakage, privacy issues, and burgeoning contact lists; KatchUp explores the development of technology that creates an online space that is more like a virtual living room or club. Exclusive, private and personal. We need to assess and verify the market needs and demand for an interactive system like this in known and unknown markets, to perform and refine a detailed requirements analysis, plus design and build a basic concept demonstrator for evaluation by a diverse group of potential users. We have experience in most of the individual component technologies that this project relies on, but need to combine and further develop these in a novel manner to achieve the system we envisage. We also intend to bring in additional expertise in some areas. We will use the evaluation results of the first demonstrator to support and justify R&D investment to develop a flexible and easy-to-deploy technology that appeals to a wide range of users and groups.