In 1959, dating on the computer was known as “technology-assisted dating.” Back then, singles had to fill out a questionnaire, and a computer would match them with another respondent based on their answers.
Now, single adults of all generations can find a date on the web not just using their computer, but also while on the go with the help of their smartphones and even their smartwatch.
If you’re searching for your king or queen above 50, buckle up because online dating only gets more exciting from here. Here’s some new tech to look forward to.
Online Dating Using VR Technology
This is what online dating is like nowadays: you look for a dating website for singles over 50 that meets your needs, signup for an account, and upload a photo of yourself. Then you browse profiles of senior singles, chat up the people you like, and wait for a response. And if things are going well, you can move on to audio or video calls and even meet up in person.
While this setup already establishes greater trust and satisfaction between two singles matched to each other, imagine how much more VR (or virtual reality) can achieve. This technology promises the possibility of interacting with someone remotely in a way that’s more immersive than video calling.
This means that you’ll get to create your own VR avatar and customize it from head to toe. You could simulate walking around in a virtual space without needing to leave your room. Plus, you could “walk” up to other singles’ avatars who are currently online.
Once you find someone you want to talk to, you don’t need to type your words. With a headset and a mic, just say “hi,” and the other people in that virtual space will hear you. You’ll get to talk to each other as if you’re face to face. You can move and “touch” them, too. You could even visit a virtual version of an actual location like Paris or New York without the airfare or jetlag.
The possibilities are endless for this technology. If you don’t have a VR headset yet, you might need to buy one soon.
Human Projection on Dating Sites
One of the pain points for mature online daters at the moment is that people tend to lie or exaggerate about their height, weight, and even facial features, as there’s the idea that finding love after you turn 50 becomes harder. While many singles don’t put too much importance on their date’s physical appearance no matter their age, they still feel disappointed when they discover that the person looks different from what they showed online.
If you have experienced this, or if this is something that has kept you from dating online, this will no longer be a problem soon. With the concepts of cameras capturing one’s physical features, you’ll be able to see an accurate 3D image projection of a person’s appearance from head to toe.
While this is currently being explored for fashion purposes, using this feature on dating sites could help curb fraudulent accounts or people who want to mislead single adults. However, this might also contribute to the already debilitating self-image perception that’s mostly seen among the younger generation.
Future Dating Algorithms with DNA Matching
In small countries such as Iceland, single adults these days have a chance of dating someone they’re related to. To combat this, the Icelandic government created an app for their citizens to check their ancestry and see if they’re related to someone they’re dating.
But there’s more to DNA than finding your blood relations. Scientists have been studying if you can find your match based on your and your potential date’s HLA complex. They hypothesize that couples are more compatible if they have different HLA types from each other.
This study has not been proven yet, however. And just because a person’s HLA complex is different from yours doesn’t automatically mean you’re meant to be with them. You’d still want to take into account your physical attraction towards them and the values you have in common.
The Possibility of AI in Online Dating
AI has already been involved in helping you find a match. For example, based on your location and interests, the AI will check its user database to find people who are in the same area as you and have the same interests.
But computer engineers are testing ways to improve this. So in the future, AI might be able to identify what you truly want in your match without even knowing that’s what you want yet. They could change their recommendations based on how much time you spend on your chosen dating site, which profiles you look at and for how long, and what you chat about with the other members.
It might sound invasive, but if it helps you find your perfect senior partner over 50, would it still matter to you?
As technology becomes more advanced, so does online dating. Soon, you’ll be able to have an immersive date somewhere you’ve never been to without actually leaving your home. You can see what your match looks like before you even meet in person. And maybe you’ll find your true love over 50 through DNA matching. If all else fails, at least you have smarter AI to count on, whether it’s for your dating life or elsewhere.
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