Introducing Online Speed Dating

By now most people are familiar with online dating: you fill out a profile and wait for someone to contact you. If you're slightly more adventurous, you pay the fee and do some contacting yourself. But online dating can be a nerve-wracking proposition. Even once you've filled out all those profiles and questionnaires, there's still no guarantee that your Pamela Anderson or Johnny Depp look-alike is what s/he claims to be.

Speed dating is slightly less popular than online dating, but it too is a growing movement. In fact, speed dating has skyrocketed in popularity since the first event in the late nineties. The twenty first century saw speed dating become not only acceptable but fashionable. Popular television helped to glamorize the concept: speed dating has been featured in such shows as Sex and the City, The Simpsons, and The Gilmore Girls. It has also found its way into feature films . both Hitch and The 40 Year Old Virgin spotlighted speed dating.

Speed dating is based on the scientifically proven fact that most people form their impressions of one another within three seconds of meeting. Those impressions tend to last. Scientists have also found that what a person claims to look for in a potential partner doesn.t always match up with what the person really wants. Your subconscious could be looking for someone very different than you think you want, which might explain any difficulties you.ve had in maintaining past relationships. Your partner might have seemed like exactly the person you were looking for, but your subconscious mind may have rejected them from the get-go.

Speed dating allows your subconscious to take control of the situation, forming impressions and guiding your choices. You might wind up with someone very different than you imagined, but that.s not always a bad thing. Studies of speed dating have also shown that impressions formed in the first thirty seconds of the date tend to make up your mind, suggesting that your subconscious really is in the driver.s seat.

You won.t get into any serious discussions about marriage and your future at a speed-dating event, but you will get to meet a wide variety of people. The point of the event is to have fun and make friends . anything else is a bonus!

In speed dating, you fill out the profile and attend an event (usually at a pub or bar) where you spend 3-6 minutes with each potential date. At the evening's end, you check off the names you're interested in, and if any of them have checked your name in turn, the organizers contact you and let you know.

Many people prefer speed dating to online dating because you get to meet the person face-to-face, but in an obligation-free environment. Of course, there are still disadvantages to speed dating. There are a limited number of participants in each event, and for some people it takes a lot of courage to sit across the table from a total stranger, let alone repeat the procedure over and over during the course of an evening.

Enter online speed dating!

How Does It Work?

Online speed dating works exactly like regular speed dating, except that you never have to leave the security of your own home! Online organizers schedule events for certain areas. Once you register for the event, you're ready to go!

Just like speed dating, you will be given 3-6 minutes to chat with other participants. The difference is that you'll be chatting online . either via text chat or using a webcam. Once the event ends, you indicate the people you connected with, and the other participants do the same. As with speed dating, you will then be put in touch with any matches.

Still interested? Here are a few general tips for a successful first event!

·     If at all possible, get access to a webcam. People prefer to see who they're talking to . wouldn't you? Web cameras are cheap and easy to obtain, so there should be no problem getting one. If for some reason you absolutely can.t access a webcam, make sure you at least have a digital photo of yourself handy for the chat. Not only does it allow you to put your most attractive self, forward, a photo (or live feed) makes you a real person. It's hard to form a connection with a stream of text, especially in a few minutes.

·     Look your best! It.s common sense, but in the comfort of your home it might be tempting to lounge around in sweats, even if you've taken the trouble of combing your hair, shaving, or putting on a touch of make-up. But remember: how you look affects how you feel! Dress as you would if you were headed to a live event, even if you don't have access to a webcam. You're more likely to have a burst of confidence if you feel and look your best.

·     Approach the evening with a positive attitude and a set goal. Remember: you don't know these people, and you'll have at best a passing encounter with each of them. Go out on a limb and put your best foot forward!

·     Have fun! It's always interesting to meet new people, even if you're not attracted to them. Don't let three minutes pass in painful silence because you don't like your partner's appearance.

·     Be reasonable in your choices. If you didn.t connect with someone, don.t choose them just for the sake of writing down a name, but don't limit your choices to one person, either. You never know who you might connect with!

What Will I Need?

One way computer speed dating differs from traditional online services is in terms of equipment. Before you register for an event, check to make sure you have everything you need.

Of course, you.ll want to check the technical requirements. Most sites use flash media technology, which means that regardless of your software and technical know-how, you.re probably just fine. You will require a broadband Internet connection to make use of the video features.

Obviously, if you're using voice chat you will need to be able to see and hear your partner. Most computers these days come equipped with speakers and a microphone, but the preferred method of communication is a headset. It.s an inexpensive investment and eliminates problems with feedback. Headsets are not difficult to use, but again, you will want to spend a few minutes figuring them out before the event begins.

As mentioned before, a webcam really is the key to your online speed dating experience. These days, webcams are available for as little as fifty dollars . sometimes less -- and they're very easy to hook up. If you do decide to invest in a webcam, take the time to set it up and make sure it works before the big event! When the time comes, you will have enough on your mind without fighting new technology!