The Future of Online Dating w/Mashable’s Pete Cashmore
We continue to tackle the meaty issues of the day here at the Cisco consumer blog. 
Today’s topic: How would online dating change with video integrated into popular dating sites like match.com, eharmony.com or social networks like Facebook to create a true visual networking experience? This was the topic of discussion for part three of our recent sit down with Pete Cashmore from Mashable. Nothing better than listening to three grown men talk about how video will increase online dating “conversion rates”.
Here’s how I think it would change:
1. Fewer surprises….40 year olds wouldn’t be able to post their high-school yearbook photos as part of their profile.
2. More trial/less error. You can think of a brief video snippet as an audition for a date. This will allow a prospective partner to cover a lot more ground and increase the chances that they will meet someone in person who is truly a good match.
3. It would be funnier. Imagine people having to create their own video introductions. I’m sure some would be very smooth, others boring, and a large % would be very awkward and funny. Basically it would be similar to the experience of meeting people in-person for the first time.
At the end of the clip I share my brilliant idea for a Facebook/Evite mash-up that would allow a person to check out who is attending (via video clip) a party in advance to determine if they would want to attend.
To learn more about visual networking
Check out Cisco Digital Cribs.
Posted by Mike Kisch at 11:24AM PST
David Evans Aug 12, 2008
I’d love to talk to someone at Cisco about using video for identity verification and dating. I have dating sites that would get involved and partners that provide the actual verification and facial analysis. Lot’s of interesting stuff to to, hope someone is paying attention.