Over the last decade, technology has drastically transformed the world of dating. Dating sites and apps like Tinder and Happn allow you to meet potential partners from all over the world and you are able to scope these partners before you meet them. But which roll could technology play in the dating world in the next decades?
The first way technology could change online dating is by making it a full sensory experience. Our 5 human senses could be simulated in virtual reality, as if you are on a real date. Right now it’s possible to see and hear your date but this means that you could even smell –which plays a very important role in finding a partner- and feel him or her, just from your own home.
Second, in the next decades the connection between our mobile devices – and in the future wearable technology- could establish matches based on behaviour. Devices will track people’s behaviour patterns more accurately –such as your reactions and the places you go-, rather than having to enter what you are looking for in a partner. Googles contact lenses could for example in the future track the type of people you look at and measure your hormones as signs of attraction.
Lastly, the decision making process in finding a partner can be improved with artificial intelligence. By processing a large amount of data from many different sources, real time feedback can help you in finding love. For example on a date, information about his or her actions and features could be received, along with the appropriate actions to take.
On one side I think these extensions of the online dating world could have a positive influence on finding a partner, it is time saving, it gives thorough information about your potential partner –and thus better decision making- and the technologies could even help you behave in an appropriate way. On the other side, it feels like dating will become less personal: how do you know if the person you’re dating acts the same without his VR device?
What do you think about these potential developments, are they postive or negative?
Sources:
http://www.eharmony.co.uk/future-of-dating/?aid=78888&cid=53999&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=78888&utm_campaign=Skimlinks
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/12020394/DNA-matching-and-virtual-reality-The-world-of-online-dating-in-2040.html
Hi Elisabeth, thank you for your post! While this may be a perfect solution for some people, I think the most important thing about dating is having physical contact at some point. This could be just having dinner together in a restaurant, a hug in the morning or just a nice chat without any mobile devices. While I think these developments are good for initial contact, I believe that for developing an actual romantic relationship needs more personal interaction.
I am very curious to see whether couples in the future will be dating solely through these new developments, and how they would feel about their relationships. Maybe it is a good development for people in long distance relationships, who only see each other occassionally, and now get the chance to have closer contact through technology, despite the distance.