Introduction: Amid the rapid growth in digital media consumption on the internet, prioritizing efficiency, security, and user experience has become imperative in designing video hosting platforms.
Aims: Hence, this paper presents the conceptualization, realization, and assessment of a cross-platform video hosting application named PlaySphere, which fulfills the criteria mentioned above. The motivation for this research came from the discovery of platform limitations (e.g., YouTube and TikTok). Such constraints in the platforms include disruptive advertisement, potential algorithmic influence, user data privacy, and restrictive and unfair revenue sharing monetization policy.
Materials and Methods: The study utilizes a user-centered design (UCD) methodology. The methodology started with the initial stage of gathering data by the means of a Google Forms survey to thoroughly determine the user's requirements and preferences. The decision above led to the creation of a system architecture that was realised by: Firebase Authentication to help users register securely; Firestore to meet real-time data requirements; Firebase Storage to deal with media assets; and Paystack integration for dependable payment gateway and premium content access. Concerning data confidentiality and integrity, PlaySphere was set up to take advantage of Firebase's built-in AES 256 encryption for data at rest, along with Transport Layer Security (TLS) for data in motion. Functional testing of the complete system and user evaluations were carried out to determine the working, overall usability, and performance indicators.
Results: The study results reveal that PlaySphere provides a smooth and enjoyable viewing experience, with low playback latency and good content management when contrasted with some traditional platforms. Furthermore, the assessment points to a high degree of user contentment, especially with the very simple look of the app, its stability, and quick responsiveness.