Collaborative Whiteboard for Google Meet

Work in Progress - This application is currently under active development. Many features are still being implemented and will be completed soon.

A shared whiteboard add-on for Google Meet that enables real-time collaboration during virtual meetings. This tool solves a common problem with traditional screen sharing where all participants are limited to viewing only what the presenter shows.

The Problem

In typical video conferencing scenarios with screen sharing:

• All participants see the exact same view of the shared content
• Participants cannot explore different parts of a shared board independently
• When someone needs to see a different section, they must interrupt the meeting to ask the presenter to navigate there
• This constant back-and-forth disrupts the flow of the meeting (especially in educational settings)

The Solution

This collaborative whiteboard allows:

• Independent Navigation: Each participant can view and explore different parts of the whiteboard simultaneously without disrupting others
• Collaborative Drawing: Meeting facilitators can write and draw on the whiteboard, and can grant permission to participants to contribute as well
• Real-time Synchronization: All changes are synchronized in real-time across all participants
• Flexible Permissions: Control who can edit vs. who can only view the whiteboard

Use Case Example

In an educational context:

• A professor draws a complex diagram or writes equations on the whiteboard during a lecture
• Students can independently pan around to examine different parts of the board they need to focus on
• Students with permission can add their own notes or attempt problems on the whiteboard
• Everyone stays engaged without interrupting the class flow to request navigation changes

This same pattern applies to:

• Business meetings where team members need to brainstorm collaboratively
• Design reviews where stakeholders want to examine different details
• Training sessions where instructors and trainees work together
• Any scenario requiring shared visual collaboration with flexible viewing

Tech Stack

Built with:

• Next.js - React framework
• tldraw - Collaborative canvas
• Liveblocks - Real-time collaboration infrastructure
• TypeScript

Status

This project is currently in development. Core features are being implemented and the Google Meet integration is being finalized. Check back soon for updates!

License

The tldraw library is provided under the tldraw license.