Bluetooth-enabled proximity dating service

from Wearable Electronics (116 articles)

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Bluetooth-enabled proximity dating service

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February 12, 2005 The world of computer-mediated matching services looks set to blossom as wireless technologies become all-pervasive. We've covered two such ingenious matchmaking services in the last twelve months and now a third with enormous potential has emerged. The third new such matchmaking service was introduced this week - the Proxidating locality-based matchmaking service for Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone users, offers an interesting new way for people to get together. Created in France (where else?), the Proxidating service uses Bluetooth connectivity to make the initial contact and with mobile phone usage now universal in many countries, particularly among the young, socially mobile and technology-savvy group, we think it has anormous potential.

To understand the potential of the system, it's probably illustrative to look at the two technolgies in this proximity-matching area that have preceeded it.

American start-up nTAG has produced an interactive name badge for conferences and social events that significantly improves the quality of people-to-people connectivity. Based on years of research at MIT's Media Lab, nTAG brings social technology into the business event arena where both host and attendee derive numerous benefits compared to the paper badges of the past.

PIX is an unconventional product from an unconventional lifestyle company called Xenofreaks Inc. With PIX, Xenofreaks have hit on an idea that may change the way people interact with each other, especially those whom we don't know, but would like to. Communication and interaction is the basis of the new Korean product PIX, an interactive visual display device that has just hit the market. Also coined the "ego visualiser" by its designers, PIX could quite possibly pave the way in how we express ourselves through our clothes and accessories in the 21st century.

The proxidating service is different to both, but has similarities. To use the service you download the Proxidating software, install it on your mobile, activate the Bluetooth connection and fill in your profile and the profile you are seeking, add a photo of yourself and the message you wish to send. Then you go out walking/clubbing/shopping and if a compatible partner comes within Bluetooth distance (about 15 metres), your phone rings and the pic and message of the nearby "match" person pops up on your phone and vice verca (i.e your pic and message pops up on theirs). You can then choose whether to walk up and say hello, text each other or pass on the opportunity.

As Bluetooth works outside the normal carrier networks, there are no charges beyond the initial fee of the downloaded which is just three euros (about US$2.10).

The advantages are that it's locality based, so unlike internet dating services you're unlikely to find someone you want to meet who lives on the other side of the planet, and unlike the pics so often found in dating sites, you get to see what they really look like, as opposed to the most flattering photo ever taken (probably circa 1995). If you're still a bit shy, you can text message your "match."

The disadvantages as far as we can see are that the profiles are very simplistic and don't offer the depth required for any really sophisticated computer-mediated matching as offered by many of the mainstream dating sites. This is likely to lead to some level of disappointment and could lead to embarrassing situations where you're suddenly confronted with an ardent new suitor who you're not so keen on.

Still, you've got to be in it to win it, and it is a novel new way of meeting people who you'd almost certainly never meet any other way. It also works for men seeking men and women seeking women, so it caters for the entire community's sexual preferences.

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