Bandana: Boost Your Gaydar
Software development company ACME AtronOmatic has just released iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch application named Bandana. Bandana is officially dubbed “The Gaydar App”. This app is a social networking application for the Gay and Bisexual community. Okay, I know this is a strange one but what this company has developed is really interesting and I can really see their method of use of the iPhone Bluetooth taking off.
ACME AtronOmatic has developed a patent-pending method that uses the iPhone’s Bluetooth. It broadcast a signal that can be picked up by other nearby iPhone users with the app installed. In the case with the Bandana application it turns your phone into an actual “gaydar detector”. Users can customize their profile by selecting “interests”, allowing users to search for profiles based on matching interests. Within range of another user also running the app, the device will “ping” or vibrate (depending on the device’s volume settings) to let you know that another person is nearby. A quick check of the display shows the profile of the user (or users) in range.
The great thing about using the Bluetooth radio broadcast is that it works without internet connectivity. Allowing the application to function in places like an elevator, subway, or a even a nightclub. Contacts made in such areas with the Bluetooth radio broadcast are stored offline and can be viewed later when the network is available. Currently this is the only dating application I’ve seen that utilizes the iPhone’s Bluetooth radio broadcast. Their are a few other dating apps out their that are similar such as StreetSpark but it uses the iPhone’s GPS and is currently only available in the UK.
Based on the the Bluetooth radio broadcast and profile customization with “interest” ACME AtronOmatic can definitely take over the app dating market if they release a heterosexual application as well. If you are single why wouldn’t you like to just turn on this application, put it in your pocket and have it do all the work for you. No more worrying and wondering if there is a person with some interest similar to yours in that bar.
