Matrix at KIT

Matrix is a free and open, secure, decentralized protocol for real-time communication, also known by the name of one of its clients, Element.

In recent years, the need for supporting digital tools for team collaboration has increased. A central tool is a team chat. According to Wikipedia, a chat refers to “electronic communication by means of written text in real time, usually via the Internet”. (Source). With a messenger team members can make each other aware of current information and especially share links (hyperlinks / links) for further collaboration (e.g. for finding appointments, collaborative writing, planning events, editing data, code, mind maps,).

Topics

• Why Matrix and no other chat system?

• How can Matrix be used? (registration and first steps)

• Recommendations for further important settings after first login

• Installation of a client / program

  • Browsersettings

• Find people and send direct messages

• Use end-to-end encryption

• Create rooms and take responsibility

  • Sharing rooms and making them public

  • Find rooms

  • Delete and leave rooms

• Fine-tune notifications

• More Clients

• Using Spaces for managing rooms

• Further development of Matrix

Acknowledgements for this documentation

The basic principles of this documentation were created by the TU Dresden and thankfully published under a Creative Commons licence. The source of the documentation can be found here. This documentation and all changes that have been made to adapt the TU Dresden documentation for KIT can be found here.

Questions and Contact

Please address general questions to the Service Desk.