iPhone application serves as blind date search engine
Creators of new iPhone application "Date Radar" hope users will find their perfect blind date in their local area through social and GPS technology.
The application requires users be 17 or older to use and is free to download.
Saginaw sophomore Chris Sowatsky said he believes it is an interesting idea but he is not sure how many people will be willing to download it and commit to the service.
"It’s hard to know how many people are going to jump on board due to security reasons, because online anyone can seem like a nice person,” Sowatsky said.
The app displays what users are looking for, gender, age range and relative location. It shows users what other people using the application around them are in the market so they have a chance to meet someone. There is also a chat function that allows users to communicate directly before their blind date.
"Date Radar," unlike many online-meeting platforms, does not have a profile picture. Sowatsky said he thinks it is a creepier version of Facebook.
Amanda Brooks said she thinks the idea is crazy.
“You may not even get someone you expect, they could be stalkers and that kind of scares me," the Belleville freshman said. "I mean, it would be cool, but there is always the option of it not working out or being dangerous."
Edith Henderson, an Ann Arbor junior, said she thinks the application is a cool and creative idea, but would not use it herself.
“I’m not very fond of blind dates so there are many things I like about this application," she said. "You can make it anonymous so if you don’t like the person you can just stop talking to them with no personal information involved.”
