Has technology made people more antisocial? Walking down the street, sitting in a restaurant or riding public transit, the most common sight is someone with headphones on and eyes glued to a screen. With the increasing questions about technology making us less connected in person, Tech in Motion gathered several innovative companies to learn how tech can do just the opposite. Philadelphia techies came out to Field House in Center City for the Social Tech Drinks & Demos to see what the next step is in social tech.
Come out to the next Tech in Motion drinks & demos in Philly.
Dating app Instamour promises its customers no more bad dates by allowing them to get to know other users while still maintaining their privacy. This is different than your average dating app in that it utilizes real time video chat, virtual calls & instant messaging - all in-app to protect your information. Founder Jason Sherman, says that the next step for social tech, “is for people to interact with each other, or the public, and truly get to know each other. That’s where our technology comes in.”
The founder of BarWithMe.TV, Peter Tarrant, thinks that mobile is the most important component in making any social tool. "Businesses are creating apps, running mobile campaigns, and focusing more and more on the user who is constantly on the move”.
BarWithMe.TV brings fandoms together to common viewing locations like local bars. The platform provides a place for people of similar interests in sports or television shows to meet and talk about it as they watch what is going on. Not only does BarWithMe.TV organize and display the information for watching parties, they also negotiate bar specials for users to enjoy during the programs.
Spotlight is a new mobile social network that uses contests with cash prizes to engage users across the platform. Along with other smaller competitions, Spotlight hands out $10,000 per month to the member with the most likes on a single post. In August, Spotlight presented their first lucky winner with a big, fat check to commemorate their first month on the app store. Users can create up to five posts a day so download the app and get started - you could win big.
In addition to communicating more,the founder of HootBoard, Satyajeet Shadade, believes “there is also a definite push towards more effective communal communications. By communal, I mean communications that happen amongst communities."
HootBoard comes in to facilitate those needs by providing a place for people to give 'a hoot.' It provides a platform that is essentially a website for specific communities use like a cork board in a lobby. They focus on connecting communities while cutting out the spam. Additionally, members can create digital flyers and other promotional materials.
According to founder Earl Knight, “GoBabL is an iOS app using the GPS signal in phones and APIs”. GoBabL connects people and their social media platforms to the community. It allows you to see posts of people that are geographically close even if you are not friends with them. Which means not missing out on local trends showing up on social media, a way to avoid FOMO (fear of missing out) for life.
This is just a glimpse of all the tech chatter that goes on at drinks & demos events in Philadelphia. Thanks to sponsors Capital One and Verizon, both drinks and conversation were flowing all night. Don't miss the next Tech in Motion event - find a chapter near you!