The Technical Components of Clubhouse
Technical Component Analysis
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While some may take the chatroom experience on Clubhouse for granted, the technologies behind it are complex. As the trendiest mobile app in early 2021, Clubhouse combines the elements such as live communication from Zoom and audio messenger from Whatsapp. Its main artifacts consist of live audio, texts, and limited graphics. It takes a different approach to social networking in an era dominated by photos and videos. We will de-blackbox the app clubhouse by introducing its algorithm and architecture, as well as how these technologies influence its users.
Algorithm: Clubhouse’s algorithm right now relies on who users follow and what topics they voluntarily report they are interested in. Users can follow people, and join “clubs” made by other users based on common interests. There are a predetermined set of topics that clubhouse provides in its search tool. Clicking on any of these topics brings up lists of users and clubs that are relevant to these topics. Users will receive notifications anytime someone they follow starts a conversation or is a speaker in a conversation. The Clubhouse home screen will also recommend upcoming scheduled conversations that do not belong to any clubs joined or people followed. The algorithm uses data from people followed and clubs joined to suggest other conversations that the user may be interested in.
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Architecture: The interface of this app is drastically different from other major social media platforms. It minimizes the visual and textual elements. In this paragraph, we will provide an overview of the app's architecture. The map above provides a basic picture of the architecture. The first part is “choose or add interesting topics.” There are specific topics such as technology, politics, and culture. After starting a room, the moderator can send the notification to speakers or listeners. The invitation is sent to the speakers and the room appears in "topics" for "audiences" to choose. From the part of "audience" on the map, users who are in a room to listen to the conversation can raise their hands. Their requests can be accepted or denied. Some get to share their opinion while others do not. From the flow chart of "speakers," speakers will receive notifications and they can join a room. In the room, there is a "stage area." Here, speakers can mute or unmute themselves, and they can speak about the topic by raising their hand without the possibility of being denied by the moderator. Both the speakers and audience can leave the room quietly at any time of the discussion. Moderators can also end the room whenever they want.
Clubhouse captures another form of live audio social media but keeps the content strictly within the chatrooms. Instead of being a visual-based entertainer, Clubhouse presents itself as a knowledge-sharing audio platform. The interface significantly reduces visual elements - only icons and profile pictures can be found. There are no other pictures or illustrations. People do not need to worry about what to wear like they would when they join a Zoom video call. They also do not need to be punctual, especially for audiences because they can join at any time and leave quietly. As the topics of discussion within the platform are being added on a regular basis, the platform's ecosystem will become richer.
