Origins of Online Dating

Online dating has taken off big time, in recent years, but where did it all begin?

Research suggests that online dating has its origins in the Swinging Sixties when students at Harvard University came up with the idea of developing a computer dating system based on a computer style questionnaire; they called their invention, ‘Operation Match’.

These entrepreneurial students charged $3 each for matching the results of the computer questionnaire using punch cards. The concept and system was an immediate success, although the enterprise itself failed from a commercial point of view. Nevertheless, Operation Match was the clear prototype for contemporary online dating services.

Tips for Successful Dating Online

Online dating is now recognised as one of the easiest ways of finding friendship and romance; everyone’s doing it, so how can you distinguish yourself from the online competition? Here’s how:

1 Get to grips with personality type profiling: many internet dating sites use intuitive personality profiles instead of the more conventional checklists of likes and dislikes; write an honest profile; remember, this is your big chance to set yourself apart and is the ideal opportunity to attract a similar minded mate; above all, be true to yourself.

2 Meet your match: think carefully about the type of personality you’re hoping to attract and what character traits you find most attractive in a mate when dating online.

3 Be clear about your aims: e.g. decide whether you’re looking for a long-term relationship, romance, sexual relationship or simply companionship or someone with similar interests; avoid sending out mixed messages.

4 Remain open-minded: as you wouldn’t judge a book by its cover, so too try to avoid judging your potential date merely on the basis of an image on a website; remember, the hidden charms of the human psyche tend to run deep; explore further before writing someone off as a no-no;

5 Start slowly: exchange several emails, first; get to know a bit more about your potential date, their background and their interests.

6 Lighten up: don’t beat yourself up if you don’t find your ideal mate immediately; stay positive, have a laugh and enjoy the process of flirting and dating online.

7 Don’t expect too much: as with any other form of dating, everyone can expect their fair share of good and bad experiences; online dating is no different.

8 Post a photo: a photo generally improves your chances of attracting the right attention; if you don’t post a photo, people may think you have something to hide; it also reduces the number of timewasters.