VentureBeat teamed up with ABC7 Information reporter Jonathan Flower for it project: I would personally continue a genuine blind date, and the San francisco community affiliate away from ABC manage interview my personal day on the spot.
Setting up the application as well as the services is straightforward: Just download brand new 100 % free app on your own new iphone 4 or Android and relate to OkCupid when you are currently a part (or create a special account if you are not). You are able to only have to reveal a few earliest details: first name, age, regardless if you are into men or women, and a profile pic, that your app will subsequently scramble (look for kept).
A word of caution: Bay area is one of the individuals metropolises in which we know someone within their field, especially in the latest tech community, and the image scrambling is pretty easy to understand owing to, thus i was able to discern a number of common faces whenever attending the new software.
2nd, the new software encourages one to manage a date (“8 p.m. from the Peet’s Java”). Following view the fresh also offers fly within the. Instead, you might look twelve roughly established schedules and choose the one which is easiest. You’ll want to await confirmation from your potential big date. Generally speaking, that it requires a few hours — if they respond whatsoever.
My personal basic impact? I found myself sometime underwhelmed from the natural amount of men whoever most useful date that is first pertains to Dunkin’ Donuts or Peet’s Coffees. Action it up, individuals! Excite!
After a couple of seeks (my first blind time applicant never returned if you ask me, in addition to 2nd decided not to get together prior to 8 p.meters.), We closed off a date which have Bobby, good twenty-one thing which have brownish locks. Their choice for the fresh new blind go out content me personally: a taqueria for the San Francisco’s Purpose Section known for their margaritas.
You simply cannot contact your potential go out until one hour in advance, in the event that software allows you to content to and fro. We obtained an email regarding Bobby confirming that he was browsing show up and you may advising me however end up being putting on a great blue sweater.
In order to celebrate new discharge, OkCupid went black to have 1 day, turning each of its character images black, very pages would “need to make its relationships choices centered on terms and conditions and you may wits instead of abdominal muscles and you can, well, almost every other areas of the body,” the company said from inside the a statement
Effect duplicitous — ABC7 Information had been on its way to televise the fresh new big date — I ventured over to the fresh eatery. On route, We actually sensed writing down discussion information on the rear of my hand in instance we had little in keeping. Bobby and i also got install to fulfill during the bar. The guy gave me an easy kiss, and i also timely informed your regarding news crew wishing external.
Bobby — aka Robert Leshner, new cofounder off Web sites confidentiality organization Safe Shepherd — took they including a professional. He could be startup guy, that is wise to the ways of your tech push. Because turned out, he had some a minds-up regarding the just who I became. A couple of hours ahead of our very own “date”, a shared pal accepted me out of my scrambled photos. Bobby got a feeling I’d become writing a story.
Around three margaritas later, I was thoroughly enjoying me, and i also learned about Bobby’s startup. Nonetheless, I am unlikely to use the new application again.
OkCupid get target several of my personal initial issues over the years. A number of insects eliminated me out of reservation a past second time — brand new application do tell me you to definitely “I am currently busy” towards the a specific nights. I’d to erase and reinstall it several times. Following there is certainly the risk somebody you will recognize your even after the scrambled images. This is especially true for one regarding San Francisco’s thriving company circles — the brand new app’s “very early adopters” are mainly technology someone. Maybe not most useful when you’re on the business community and would like to expand your horizons.
It is an excellent suggestion in principle, but once OkCupid lead a similar blind relationships provider from inside the 2007, it was a complete bomb
Yagan are pretty sure the fresh app takes off over the 
years. For the an interview that have ABC7 (look for lower than), Yagan stated the software was already used “hundreds of times.”
Some body just weren’t all that comfy conference a stranger regarding Sites with only a name, age, and you may scrambled photo to be on.
I’m not shocked they were not successful. There will be something both frightening and you will embarrassing regarding the happening a time that have a strange complete stranger. Blind dates only appear to work-out if it is a flat-up and you’ve got a pal otherwise a couple of in common. Fortunately, Bobby and i had some typically common surface that will explore tech, so we’re going to become family.