From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!cw
Newsgroups: net.singles
Title: "The Origins of Computer Dating"
Article-I.D.: eagle.585
Posted: Wed Oct 27 22:13:48 1982
Received: Thu Oct 28 06:25:04 1982
References: cbosgd.2753


It was suggested here that Art Linkletter began computer dating.  Not
true.  Here's how it really happened......

In the school year 1965-66 (when I was a junior), the guys in the
room right through the fire door figured they needed a little extra
money.  Since they knew a little about computers, they thought they
might get some bucks by starting a computer dating service.  Since
we were all in Boston at the time, the idea was not unreasonable;
the estimate was that there 160,000 college students living there.

In any case, they had a questionnaire printed and distributed;
when enough folks sent in their $3 (I think it was), they had the
stuff keypunched and run through a simple little matching program.
I remember that the on the first run, the 1401 broke down and
some of the matches were done by hand.  Everybody who
subscribed was supposed to get at least three names and presumably
most people were satisfied because the business really took off.
They ran new groups every three months or so.  In the second one
they had a promotion in which a Playmate was to be selected as a date;
you might guess that our house president (and very good friend of the
organizers) won.

After about a year, they original proprietors sold out.  By then
the thing had spread around some as well.   Now, of course, it is
quite common.

By the way, the original business was called Operation Match;
do any of you remember?

In a later episode, Charles tells of A. Aardvark and also
reveals the truth about "the pickup with everything you've
ever wanted!"  Stay tuned for these tales of great computer
dates in the past.