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Idea currently is a social networking concept. The central idea is a rating system whereby you can rate the people you meet (that are part of the experiment) and while the core implementation is a website that lets users login and view peoples ratings/profiles. We don't want to replace facebook in any way (except by having a basic profile) but we might look at a facebook app to integrate the two. Iphone apps to rate on the fly and then sync your ratings when plugged in etc are all options.
Other ideas include having an events system for carpooling/taxiing/organising events with people in your contact groups. Also finding new contacts in your area on the basis of interests/tastes in music etc.

Hanan we would like your take on the website, would it be hard to create a login system that would communicate with these various aspects of the concept? I am happy to design the front end using CSS/AJAX/Flash/JavaScript etc.

For tomorrow we would like to have a page containing your take on the idea including what you think the social impacts might be, how you think the rating system should work, etc, etc.
Also meeting with James Charlton tomorrow after the first years.
-Joe.
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The idea behind this social concept is the new forms of networking that have recently become available and practical. It allows people who live in a city to experience. normally these people would never meet each other and even if they did, they would not know that they had anything in common. this system is designed to reduce boundaries between people in a way that has not been tried before. The system is broken into sections. one of these sections lets you specify an event for people to plug into, such as carpooling. Another section introduces people with similar interests using activities such as concerts (that these people might otherwise attend alone) A third section is a rating system whereby users can rate others based on first impressions etc.

The opportunities afforded by this concept are exciting, it seems like a natural progression from previous social networking sites such as facebook only with a clearly defined and progressive purpose. Now the networking is doing the introducing, rather than solidifying relationships that began elsewhere. The ability to save money/time (CARPOOLING) is a good hook to encourage people to dabble in the concept (good for testing).

The carpooling concept is also a good starting point as it addresses other (environmental, traffic) issues that aren't directly aligned with the social networking aspect.

Potential side effects of this form of networking are a chance of crime etc, as I see it these are risks we take every day with trademe/public transport, etc. but it something that should be addressed if there is a chance that this concept would be viable.