Social Net
Social Net is a novel interest-matching application that uses patterns of collocation over time to infer shared interests between users. It demonstrates new possibilities and methods for using the capabilities of mobile devices equipped with RF communications.
Background & Objective: Wireless, peer-to-peer RF-communication (e.g., Bluetooth) is an increasingly accessible option when designing mobile devices and applications. A recent trend in both the commercial and research worlds has been to outfit pocket-sized devices with RF-based communications so that applications can continually broadcast the users presence, while simultaneously detecting others nearby. We consider such applications opportunistic, mobile applications, because they opportunistically perform a service or function when detecting others in the physical world. Social Net explores new strategies for using mobile devices equipped with RF-based communications.
Technical Discussion: We propose new strategies for using mobile devices equipped with   A key aspect of social net is keeping a "human in the loop" to address social concerns and issues of scalability. Circumventing existing social practices can be problematic. Therefore, rather than attempting to directly mediate an introduction, Social Net relies on a person's social network to locate an individual to perform the introduction of the two strangers. This requirement introduces trust and accountability into the process, while assigning the most critical social roles to the person, not the technology.
Technology Areas:
Net Services
Off the Desktop Interaction and Display
Modification Date: July 7, 2008