May 26, 2009

• Want to see if that girl/guy is interested? There’s an app for that.

  

  Well it’s not available…yet (I think)

  You know with the way technology is going that something like this will happen sooner or later.  So, why not capitalize on it?  I’ve actually thought about this idea a while ago and heard that there might be something similar to this out there but it’s not widespread yet.  Well, in case one of these days someone does go out and make a popular app like this you can say you heard about it from me first!

  I was thinking this could be very useful for people that are just slightly shy about making the first move.  Rejection sucks and the fear of rejection can freeze up people from even attempting to talk to a potential love interest.  Questions like “will they like the way I look?” and “are they even single?” can downright stop people from making that ever important first move.  So many opportunity can pass by before you realize it.

  So what if there was something (for instance, an application on the iPhone) that can allow you to detect whether there’s someone in your surrounding that’s interested in you and vice versa?  The basic premise would be that users of this app can be alerted whenever another user is around (based on phone’s GPS) and is a good match.  From there, you can see your compatibility rating with them (based on prior personality tests), look at their profile, and even message them.  If everything works out, you can proceed to strike up a conversation with them in person.  It’s pretty much like a dating site, but to go!

  Let’s call this iFirst-Move for now (definitely open to other name suggestions).

  How To Use iFirst-Move:
  *Set up an account.  Pretty basic.  Just fill in a screenname, password, etc.
  *Fill in profile.  This is where you can put information such as your age, relationship status, sexual orientation, etc. 
  *Complete a quick bio of yourself a brief summary of what you’re looking for.  This is self-explanatory.  The amount of information you can put will be limited since ideally you should find out more information after you have physically met up with that person. 
  *Take personality/trait test.  Before anyone can start using this app, they will have to take a multiple choice test (probably with 100+ questions in order to make it as accurate as possible).  The data from that test can then help establish one’s compatibility level with others.
  *Set up privacy/alert controls.  You can choose how much information another user can see and even limit who can see your profile or be alerted of your presence based on certain criteria (i.e. age, gender, compatibility level)

  Other Options With This App:
  *Rating scale.  People can rate your appearance (similar to Hot or Not).  Can be made public or private.  Also, if two people rate each other favorably, they would each get a message saying that they did (similar to many dating sites).
  *User Reviews/Testimony.  A section where other people can leave feedback (similar to Amazon).  People can also rate which comments were the most useful.
  *Browsing.  Allows you to just casually see which other users are around. 
  *Message system.  Just a way to initially grab someone’s attention.  Not meant to be the main way of getting to know someone.

  Of course, this idea is in no way perfect.  I’m assuming it will be susceptible to the same weaknesses of network sites in that people can lie about certain details or cheat at the tests.  Hopefully, other people’s ratings of that user can help a little bit, as well as basic common sense.  Also, this needs to get relatively popular so it can work the way it’s planned.  It won’t be that helpful if nobody use it right?  Perhaps some partnership with already established network sites, such as Facebook, could alleviate that problem.

  Finally, this is not meant to replace real life interaction.  The idea is that this type of app can help give that extra nudge and confidence to people so that they can make that first leap of faith.  Since we already have things such as online dating sites and dating ads I don’t see this being a big change to the status quo.  It’s probably not for everybody, but I’m sure some people would find this app a good supplement to the old fashion way of meeting people.
   
  Perhaps one of these days a technology savvy person can make this application.  If so, feel free to give me a percent of that profit

  That’s my pitch.  So, yay or nay to this idea?  Any suggestions on how to improve it?

  P.S. I know I know, I put way more thought into this than I probably should have.

  P.P.S. I’m also pretty sure there has to be something like this out there already, so let me know if you know of any.

  • 4:04 pm
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