...In today's generation, the use of technology seems to be replacing all real-world experiences. In need of some new decor? Just order it online. Feeling hungry? Fill out an online form to have your food delivered right to your doorstep. How about wanting a new relationship? The online world provides individuals with the opportunity to communicate without ever leaving the comforts of their own home. Online personas rid the user of the dilemmas real world relationships provide since the user can edit, frame, and share their online identity to comply with societal preferences. Who people are online versus who they are in the real world usually vary from the identity they wish to share with others. The hyperpersonal model examines how self-presentation...
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...investigation on the specific causes which weaken online dating websites’ efficiency Weiyi Zhang University Bridge Writing Introduction Since online dating started 20 years ago, it has developed into a mature industry. In the U.S, over forty million citizens have memberships to online dating websites; however, less than half of online dating users have turned virtual dates into real ones. Even more surprisingly, after the last decade’s rapid growth, the proportion still is not as high as people imagine. In 2005, two-thirds of online dating website members never had a face-to-face date with their virtual romantic interests. Moreover, some experimenters from Stanford University and Michigan State University conducted research about online dating with a sample including 5,000 couples, which were separated into 2,500 online couples and 2,500 offline couples. The observation showed that couples who met each other online have a higher possibility to break up than those who met each other offline, which is 47 percent versus 29 percent. According to the mentioned data, online dating might be less efficient than offline dating. However, just as the old saying goes, “What is rational is actual and what is actual is rational.” Online dating does accord with the trend of the times. Therefore, this article will try to discuss some potential specific causes which weaken online dating websites’ efficiency. As a result, some readers or online dating websites users might obtain a better knowledge...
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...Case Analysis ------------------------------------------------- Summary While meeting people online to find a viable partner is more popular now than ever, online matchmaking industry initially faced challenges stemming from the stigma attached to it. The stigma subsided with time as more successful relationships evolved from online dating. Currently, people frustrated with traditional dating process which takes time and patience, prefer to meet people online for several reasons. Primarily, the convenience and accessibility is a huge benefit. There are over 20 million singles online and eHarmony states that one in five marriages started from an online relationship. Using online service not only allows you to meet other singles outside of your geographical area but also your social circle that you share common interests with. Online dating allows singles to search for a mate twenty four hours a day, seven days a week which works perfectly for a busy professional. Secondly, online sites like eHarmony provide matchmaking tools that can suggest single who are compatible with your values and beliefs, these tools make finding a potential mate easier than if you were randomly trying to meet someone in the real world. Lastly, it allows the singles to build a rapport before dating someone thus reducing the awkwardness of a first date. All of these factors play a role in eHarmony business strategy to differentiate the company from its competitors. This report examines online dating...
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...- Strategy Case Analysis Executive Summary Executive Summary eHarmony is uniquely placed in the online personals market through strategic innovation eHarmony is placed in a highly competitive market * Different segments exist within the market- e.g. free do it yourself, niche sites, paid do it yourself, etc. each having many players * Emerging threat from substitutes like social networking sites * Direct competition launched by biggest competitor ‘Match’ through its ‘Chemistry’ offering eHarmony’s key valuable resource is its vast bank of customer data that it uses to match customers based on its proprietary algorithm, and its brand/reputation * Data bank is rare and inimitable for competitors or new market entrants, making it a critical resource leading to competitive advantage * “Match for life” reputation as a result of rigorous registration process attracting customers interested in long-term relationships eHarmony offers a higher value to its customers in comparison to its competitors in terms of specialization of service offered, efficiency and quality of matches and the detailed screening process Going forward, eHarmony should focus on expanding service offerings (offering services for parenting, weddings, etc.) and explore geographic expansion to other English speaking Western countries * Expansion would be re-enforcing with eHarmony’s critical resources like its intensive R&D capabilities, customer loyalty and reputation ...
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...PROJECT CHARTER FOR ONLINE DATING SITE | Team 19 | | BILKENT UNIVERSTY DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SYSTEMSSubmitted byOğuzhan AkbudakCan ErdemirHazal GüngörMustafa KeleşSubmitted toBeyhan AkporayProject AdvisorDr. Syed Amjad Ali | 10/16/2011 | | Contents 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 2 PROJECT PURPOSE 3 3 Project Scope and Software Product Requirements 5 3.1 Project Scope 5 3.2 Software product requirements 6 4. Software Development Process Model 7 4.1 Advantages of V-Model 8 5 Project Stakeholders and Organization 9 5 .1 External Interface 9 5.2 Internal Interface 10 5.3 Roles and Responsibilities 11 5.4 Role Descriptions 12 6. Project Communication 12 7. Project Change Control 15 7.1 Change Control Tool 16 8 Milestones & Deliverables 17 9 Assumptions 18 10 Constraints 18 11 RISKS 19 figure 1 Business Context Diagram 5 figure 2 V Model 7 figure 3 External Interface 9 figure 4 Internal Interface 10 figure 5 Timeline 13 figure 6 Project Change Control System 15 table 1 Roles and Responsibilities 11 table 2 Project Communication Methods 14 table 3 Milestones&Deliverables 17 table 4 Risk Identification&Strategies 19 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On the internet lots of websites that provide an opportunity to people in order to giving a chance for meeting, dating and getting marry with each other are very popular. According to researches that made by online dating magazines, more than...
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...eHarmony If you are single and looking for long-term love, eHarmony.com Inc. wants to find you the "perfect mate." With traditional values and modern matchmaking possibilities, eHarmony.com has taken the electronic dating scene by storm. eHarmony has united more than 10,000 couples in marriage in its short history and, during 2008, had more than seven million registered users. Background In 2000, eHarmony was founded by Dr. Neil Clark Warren an evangelical Christian who worked for 30 years as a psychologist specializing in counseling married couples. He also authored two books, “Finding the Love of Your Life” and “Date…or Soul Mate?”, the former selling over one million copies. After a successful career of counseling married couples and research into marital problems, he came to one solid conclusion. In his biography on eHarmony’s website he states, “In almost every case, these were two persons who should never have married each other! They really didn’t belong together. They thought they did, but they were not well matched”. From there, he identified 29 dimensions that he found were consistently present in successful marriages. Dr. Warren found online dating as an opportunity to take his match making theories to a new level. eHarmony’s competitive advantage is that it established its credibility by using a scientifically developed questionnaire based on Dr. Warren’s 29 dimensions. The questionnaire does not just ask for personal hobbies and interests...
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...communicate. Let’s look at what we now call online dating. A person can now find a potential soul mate with the click of a mouse, but can one completely forget traditional dating, something that has been around for centuries. What happened to those days of courting and going out to meet your potential suitor? We now live in a world where computer generated questionnaires will do the leg work for you. Though online dating and traditional dating ultimately have the same goal of finding “the one,” they are different in many ways. It now seems that more people are flocking to online dating, but is it really better or worse than the age old method? Entering the dating scene can be a challenging and overwhelming process. When you add on technology, you enter another realm of dating. Online dating seems to be a fast growing trend and has become a popular alternative to dating. With the internet now having daily usage, more people are willing to look to it for help. “There are billions of people online which could make the possibility of connecting with someone easier than it has been in the past. With the internet you are given a wider range of people to meet that are also looking for relationships.” (Finkel, Paul, Benjamin, Harry, & Sprecher, 2012, para. 12). Singles are now willing to attempt anything to find their mates. The question now becomes how far are people really willing to go to find that someone. Think about traditional dating and how it has evolved. Centuries ago there...
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...VALENTINOS PERSONAL INTRODUCTIONS AGENCY 1. VALENTINOS MISSION STATEMENT, THREE BUSINESS BENEFITS, SWOT ANALYSIS AND PESTLE ANALYSIS A. VALENTINOS The Valentinos Personal Introductions Agency is a well-established company that has been operating within the UK market since 1976 and with over 8 million single men and women in the UK between the ages of 18 and 64, and often living without the opportunity to meet potential partners, the company has been very successful. However the management of the organization have expressed a growing concern that is being felt regarding the 10 year old computer systems that are currently being relied upon and the negative affect that such outdated systems are having on the companies’ competitive advantage and market share within the UK. This essay will therefore seek to assess the value and importance of the computer system with regards to the competitive advantage of the company, the company culture, and the overall productivity of the organization. The essay will approach this question by firstly evaluating the strategic position of the company both internally, through the use of a SWOT analysis, and externally relative to it’s competitors and various other contingent factors to competitive advantage through the consideration of Porter’s 5 forces analysis model (Porter, 2008). The essay will then proceed to directly discuss the effects that the computer system has upon the Valuentinos organization culture and productivity levels before finally...
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...Decision Tree. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- The interview guide can be considered appropriate, but may not be complete. ------------------------------------------------- Tutorial Group 3 Susan Sun Words: 941 Introduction and background Emily and Ryan, undergraduates at VUW believe there must be a better way to meet people and plan activities, such as dates, and social events. They have noticed a possible opportunity in this area for people like them at university that Facebook and other SNS have not addressed directly. They particularly liked the idea of only targeting tertiary students in order to attract singles looking for a more defined friendship and dating network. They were also attracted to a mobile application for smart phones that could be used to set up events and activities on the go. In addition to allowing subscribers to connect and meet new people with common interests, the service (application) would help coordinate and plan group and personal events. This service would also provide planned structured events (e.g., week-long vacations, cycling or tramping trips) and personal services, such as body guards and background checks for personal dates. Secondary research summary The secondary research provided insight to the problem and context. In the New Zealand tertiary education sector there are eight universities, 22...
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...How, How Do I Love Thee? A Rhetorical, Rhetorical Analysis The search for a soulmate always lurks in the minds of single young adults. People want someone who possesses similar qualities, yet at the same time, they want someone who will fill their flaws and make them a better person. For some, this process of finding the perfect partner can take years upon years, but the 21st century technology of online dating sites now allows prospective users to find potential dates within a few days. While this may sound like a breakthrough in the science of relationships, doubt regarding its viability exists. Lori Gottlieb, a renowned author who often focuses on the topic of online matchmaking, asks the question, “In the subjective realm of love, can cold, hard science help?” (2) To answer this question, Gottlieb endures countless hours of research, interviews, and simulations, writing her article “How Do I Love Thee?” as a final masterpiece to display her findings. Through a sarcastic tone, witty asides, specific details, and emotional, logical, and ethical appeals, Gottlieb effectively illustrates her discoveries on whether or not science can truly determine compatibility and lasting love. Before she places her opinion on display, Gottlieb first builds up the article with interesting statements to keep the reader engaged. She frequently inserts her own sarcastic opinions into her article, sometimes through asides and parenthesis, and other times through appositives or descriptions...
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...The Age of Internet Dating Script Student Names COM/310 Date Instructor The Age of Internet Dating The title of this script, as believed by the authors is relevant because it captures the reality of internet dating and the enjoyment it brings to adults both young and old. Through the advancements in technology, the ease of communicating with another person through the computer provides the user with a level of comfort. The younger generations have a clearer understanding of technology and the services the internet can provide. The older generation seems to be catching up as they begin exploring new means in making friends. Everyone deserves a chance at finding love; whether by dating the old-fashioned way or finding it through an internet dating site, love is fun and exciting. We ask the audience members to look at a situation between a mother and her daughter, their differences in age, and if the concerns of the daughter are reasonable. The authors ask the audience to think about how they would handle this situation if they were the mother or the daughter. If, after reading this script, you find that you relate to the mother and her interest in dating, then perhaps you can relate to the older generations and their desire to belong If however, you find that you relate more to the daughter, then you probably understand how the internet dating world works, and how the results of online dating can be both positive and negative. Cast of Characters Kathryn: A mother...
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...Advancement in modern technology have made the process of discovering a partner simpler for many around the world. An a online dating website allows a user to construct a profile with information of themselves, granting others to focus on profiles with identical passions, expectations as well as other important aspects. Countless numbers of the population are resorting to the internet as an accessory to find a mate in the modern days. However, even though online dating has effective advantages on the users, there are also various disadvantages that comes along the way. One of the most considerable advantage of online dating is the idea of concentrating on profiles with similar interests in the comfort of ones home without having to commute to meet the certain other individual. "Meaningful dating can be done at a distance, even in other countries" (Croft ). The thought of less driving generates a effective influence about finding a mate online. Furthermore various online dating sites authorize others to view and learn before striking up a conversation with a user. However “If a "surfer" is not witty or doesn't write well, online dating can be difficult.” (Croft) One of the main issue with online dating is the capability to identify whether the person your conversing with is genuinely the individual that they say they are. Despise the fact that many say “pictures are worth a thousand words” much of the time they are not of the person being spoken with. A user may conceivably...
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...Online dating can be fun, but do not neglect safety and common sense when you try to hook up with a mate. At minimum, take caution in the following areas. Computer Security Make sure you have some kind of computer security before hitting the dating sites. You should have both a firewall and an anti-virus program for your email and when you browse the dating sites. A free firewall is made by Zone Alarm and a free anti-virus program is AVG. Protect Yourself Take care of yourself, too, by choosing appropriate dating sites. Seek and choose a reputable online dating service. How? Begin by asking around with friends, neighbors, co-workers and others you may know who have tried online dating, and see which places they recommend. In addition, search...
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...sFACT SHEET • MAY 2013 What is Zoosk? Zoosk – an industry leader in mobile and online dating – is bringing personalization to the industry using Behavioral Matchmaking™. Zoosk is consistently the No. 1 dating app in the iOS App Store℠. Zoosk is available in 25 languages (supported by a multilingual customer service center in San Francisco) and has subscribers in more than 70 countries. Competitive Landscape In general, Zoosk has become a huge industry leader. In Q1, Zoosk experienced tremendous growth, especially compared to its competition. Spreadsheet is available: Q1 year-over-year website traffic (source: comScore data analysis by Zoosk). Zoosk: + 116% eHarmony: -70% Match: -32% Zoosk ranks No. 2 in average monthly U.S. traffic data (source: Compete): o Match: 13 million average unique monthly visitors o Zoosk: 8 million o eHarmony: 3.7 million o OkCupid: 1 million Zoosk Stats Zoosk is available in 25 languages (supported by a multi-lingual customer service center in San Francisco) and has subscribers in more than 70 countries Amount of traffic the site receives on a daily basis: 15 million monthly active users Most highly trafficked month: January Most highly trafficked day of the week: Sunday Zoosk has more than 145 full-time staff based in its San Francisco headquarters Target demographic: 18+ Total funding raised to date: $40.5 million Ratio of male-to-female users: Each country is slightly different. On average, it is an even ratio. Facebook...
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...Segmentation, and Product Positioning Dating is something that most people have done or will do at any given point in their life. For some people, meeting and asking someone out for coffee, dinner, drink, or even a movie is as easy as breathing. On the other hand, for others it is just not that simple. Then to add to that scenario, you have people that have been with their mates for years, then suddenly find themselves single as a result of divorce, or because the spouse died unexpectedly. Now, just imagine someone in this situation who frankly hasn’t had a date in years, except with their significant other. They may not be prepared for the challenges of dating, or able to get out and meet people in the traditional manner in which most people are accustomed to dating. In addition, times have changed, and now with advance technology, a person can meet potential suitors online without ever having to leave the house. It is for this reason that online dating has become very popular. People can now search out the type of person who attributes fits more closely with their own ("What causes popularity of online dating?"). With the trend of online dating, there are a number of dating sites where there are millions of people who are utilizing the sites. To subscribe to these various sites, a person will just need to have access to a computer and Internet connection (Nandca, 2012). My company known as Second Time Around will be an Internet Dating Site that will be open to any single persons...
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