Matchmaking Device System: Applications

The MDs can be used in social contexts where people are looking to enter in communication with others that share similar interests. It can help initiate communication and enrich the interaction between people by signaling their compatibility. Their application can be restricted to a confided spatial area, or it can be deployed on an extended spatial area.

General considerations

Used on an extended spatial area

In one possible realization, the MDs would be used on tourist resorts. The compatibility between two users could be signaled through a combination of sound and light. The MD could be a bracelet that people carry around in eateries, in clubs, at the beach, or other populated areas of the resort. Whenever two similar MDs come within the range of communication, they exchange their own profile category, and they signal the presence of a user carrying the same type of MD by emitting a sound. The matching probability is signaled simultaneously through a color code. The range of communication is variable and the user can control it. The sound alarm makes the MD fun to use as both users could hear it. It could also take the form of a button, a necklace, or other type of object that suits this type of application. Other combinations of light, sound, and/or vibration can be used to signal the matching probability. The MD can also be used on cruises, clubbing areas, or other places where people are looking to socialize with others that share similar interests. It can be used in combination with any type of organization that can constitute a virtual community, organizations that offer dating services to the general public for example, bringing that virtual community into real life. The user can make his/her profile on a terminal at specific locations, or over the Internet. The MD can be uploaded with the user’s information at specific locations, or directly on his/her personal computer. The MD’s can be given for free to users, they can be included in a package of services, or they can be sold individually with other interesting accessories.

Used on a confined spatial area

In one possible realization, the MDs would be used at singles parties. The matching probability is an indication of the compatibility of two persons with respect to interpersonal relationships. The compatibility is signaled to the users via a color code. The MD could be a drinking glass. Whenever two similar glasses come within the range of communication, when clinking glasses for example, they exchange their own profile category, and they signal the compatibility by lighting the corresponding color. The range of communication of these glasses would be short in order to be able to identify, without any ambiguity, which glass’ signal one particular glass has picked up. The gesture of clinking glasses is a common behavior of individuals in the context of a social event where drinks are consumed. This gesture, so natural in western societies, can be used as a pretext to approach two glasses to enter in communication, and to signal the compatibility between the two users. The MD could also take the form of a bracelet, a button, or other type of object that suits this type of social event. The hand shaking is a common behavior when individuals first meet. If the MD is a bracelet, this gesture, so natural in western societies, can be used as a pretext to approach the two bracelets to enter in communication, and to signal the compatibility between the two users. Other combinations of light, sound, and/or vibration can be used to signal the matching probability. The MD can also be used on cruises, clubs, casinos, or other places where an important number of people are looking to socialize with others that share similar interests. It can be used in combination with any type of organization that can constitute a virtual community, organizations that offer dating services to the general public for example, bringing that virtual community into real life. The user can make his/her profile on a terminal at specific locations, or over the Internet. The MD can be uploaded with the user’s information at the location where the Matchmaking Device System is in use.

Applications of the Matchmaking Device System

The Matchmaking Device System can find applications in different industries.

Air, rail, water, scenic and sightseeing transportation (NAICS: 481, 482, 483, 487)
Educational services (NAICS: 611)
Amusement gambling and recreation (NAICS: 713)
Accommodation (NAICS: 721)
Food services and drinking places (NAICS: 722)
Dating services (NAICS: 8129902)

It appears that the Dating market is the most promising for the introduction of the Matchmaking Device System.

The Air Industry has already considered matching their customers according to their interests, and profession. They enrich the experience of their passengers by offering them the possibility to choose a seat next to a person of interest. One good example is Airtroductions.com. Flyers matchmaking constitutes a positive spin to the painful experience of being trapped into the seat for hours at the time, next to a stranger that might even be unfriendly. The Matchmaking Device System can be adapted for the air travel industry, and distributed by carriers to all passengers. The demand is real, as demonstrated by the success of Airtroductions.com.

The Matchmaking Device System can be introduced in schools to match students with similar academic interests. Signs of a need for tools intended to improve social interaction in the academic environment are already visible (a good example is Workshoplive.com). The Matchmaking Device System can be adapted to suit the needs of students as well as those of the schools administrators. It can be designed to match students not only based on academic interests, but also integrating all sorts of interests related to after school activities, sports, music, etc. The school administrators can find this product very attractive as the MD Locator (part of the Matchmaking Device System) gives them the possibility to monitor and to control student behaviors and orientations.

It is also easy to imagine applications in the Amusement Gambling and Recreation Industry. Making new contacts can interest individuals that attend amusements and recreation facilities. The Matchmaking Device System can enhance the experience of Disneyland’s visitors.

The Accommodation Industry looks even more promising. More and more people travel for business, and some of them travel a lot, and alone. Sometimes, their hotel room becomes a cell of solitude. Some hotels have sensed the problem and help lonely customers to find a partner for sport activities, for diner, or simply for a nice conversation at the lounge. SoHo Metropolitan Hotel offers “Solo at the Soho Met” a service that pairs up guests for shopping, sporting events, theatre and sightseeing. The Matchmaking Device System adapted to this application can be a great solution to this growing problem. The hotel could distribute a Matchmaking Device with the room key, and in conjunction with their already existing matchmaking systems, the Matchmaking Device would enables spontaneous encounters with a match-person in the elevator, at the lobby, at the bar, or in the morning during breakfast. The accommodation industry has already considered the matchmaking solution to a growing problem, showing that there is place for this Matchmaking Device System.

The industry of Food Services and Drinking Places is the closest one to the dating industry. People go out in nightclubs to socialize. That is their primary goal when they decide to pay over 10$ cover charge just to enter a nightclub. An event where socializing is the main scope is home to social interaction devices. A great numbers of bars, nightclubs, restaurants, are very keen to use them. The Matchmaking Glass System was designed precisely for this kind of application. For applications in the Food Services and Drinking Places Industries, the Matchmaking Device System is purchased directly by actors in this industry.

This brings us to the Dating Industry. Dating organizations, have a database of singles that are profiled and matched to other singles. From there, a very complex network of dating activities expands. Some of these activities remain technology-mediated, or somehow virtual: chatting and video-chatting, emailing, talking on the phone, sending pictures, etc. Others reach into the real live: dining, dancing, meeting in a bar or in a coffee place, going to see a movie, taking a walk in a park, playing a favorite sport, and even going in organized tours and vacations for singles. The Dating Industry reaches into the Food Services and Drinking Places Industry, Accommodation Industry, Recreation Industry, and even the Travel Industry. All real live dating events are home for social interaction devices. Dating events organizers are keen to use different strategies to make people interact, and members of dating communities appreciate all the fun things that make them better connect with others. For applications in the Dating Industry, the Matchmaking Device System is distributed by the dating company to social event organizers, to be used at their specific locations. The Matchmaking Device can be custom-designed for the dating company licensing this product-idea. It puts the licensee dating company in the middle of the party. It facilitated its connection with real life social events, without any direct involvement in the organization of such events, by partnering with those that do it best: club owners, singles parties organizers, actors in the tourist industry, etc. If well orchestrated and well designed, the Matchmaking Device has the potential to make giant waves, and become the “coolest” social interaction gadget. Working with the licensee's Internet-based profiling and matchmaking systems, it will draw people to their websites. If everybody at the party has it, everyone will want it! This is the perfect product that will intensify members’ activity, increase conversion, and at the same time improve retention and reduce churn. It will do that by pooling users to their dating websites, by enhancing the dating experience, and by improving interactivity and the sense of community. Furthermore, social event organizers are also drawn to their websites, as they try to reach members of your online communities, who are at the same time their clients.