ProjectProposal-EricYoon
From CS160 User Interfaces Fa06
Anoto-Enhanced Speed Dating
Problem Description and Context.
Many singles in the United States are seeking to find a romantic partner, but for various reasons find this process extremely difficult. People are busy and have little time to date. For older individuals and divorcees, the existing venues for this activity -- singles bars and night clubs -- are not particularly attractive. Online dating is growing in popularity but lacks a physical encounter and conversation that, for many, is essential to evaluating a prospect.
A fun solution to this problem is the concept of speed dating. At a typical speed dating event, a group of women and a group of men, in equal numbers, collect in a pleasant venue, such as a cafe or bar. The women sit down at separaed tables, and the men have five to fifteen minutes with each woman. Each man and woman has a card or sticker affixed to them that exhibits a unique code. After the event is over, the men and women note on a piece of paper the codes of those people they liked. If there is a match, the two are both sent messages, informing them of the match and of the pair's contact information.
One of the problems with this otherwise clever approach, however, is that the men and women often forget their impressions of the people that they have met. They may difficulty matching conversations with faces. Furthermore, they lack detailed information about each person. Speed dating allows for a face to face encounter, something that online dating lacks and that is, for many, important for determining chemistry. But speed dating doesn't allow much time for the participants to learn much more about each other.
The organization setting up the speed date could have people record information about themselves at the event, but it must be done in such a way as to be quick and comfortable in a noisy atmosphere such as a bar or club. The method should be accessible to all sorts of people who might be interested in speed dating, such as older individuals who are not technologically inclined. It also should have a style that is not inconsistent with the casual, fun and romantic atmosphere of the event. Doing data entry at a computer terminal, one by one, for example, would be a bit too dry and obtrusive. Lastly, it would be best if such data could be aggregated and rendered accessible and searchable as quickly as possible.
Solution
The solution is to use the digital pen to both record information about each member, consolidate interview notes and have them immediately posted online for easier access.
For example, before each event, people can use an Anoto digital pen and specialized paper to fill out a questionaire about themselves. It might ask for their unique identity code, name, job, interests, most unusual or adventurous experience, etc. Also, digital pictures can be taken of each participant that can be associated with their writings. When the member checks the "Submit" box, the data will either later (when the pen is placed in its holder) or immediately (through a Bluetooth or wireless connection) be stored in an online database.
Also, when members are interviewing one another, they can have digital sheets upon which to take notes on people they meet. All the participant has to do is write his or her notes and include the target's unique identity number. These notes, too, will be stored in an online database.
For several days after the event, each participant can use the Internet to browse through the profiles of the people they met. Each person can also see the notes that they wrote about every other person, but he or she can see only his or her notes and nobody else's. Using the site, the notes and the more extensive profiles and pictures, each participant can then make a more informed choice about who they would or wouldn't like to go out on a second date with.
Please access the link below to see an example of a questionaire and a web site profile page.
