[Gertie Keddle]

Highlight, the people discovery app that could change the world
Daniel Terdiman
by Daniel Terdiman March 3, 2012 4:00 AM PST
CNET
Excerpt:

Q&A It may be a 2-person startup, but its people discovery app is poised to take the interactive world by storm. CEO Paul Davison spoke to CNET about Highlight's plans.

Highlight is a new people discovery app that is poised to break out at SXSW this week in Austin, Texas.
<snip>


Q: Thank you very much for doing this. I appreciate it. Could you give a quick summary of Highlight for those that aren't familiar with the app?

Paul Davison: Highlight is a mobile app that helps you learn more about the people around you. If you are standing near me and you also have Highlight installed, your profile will show up on my phone. I can see your name, profile photo, all of the friends we have in common, and all of the other things we have in common--like if we went to the same school or are from the same hometown. I can also see a history of the times we have crossed paths before. If I am walking down the street and Highlight sees someone particularly interesting crossing my path, it will notify me.

All of it is based on real identity and mutual friends, and there are privacy controls to limit who can see your profile. The idea is to surface hidden connections and give you a sixth sense about the world around you.

You say "someone particularly interesting." What do you mean by that? How does Hightlight make that determination?

Davison: Good question. Initially, it is based on simple things, like whether you have a lot of mutual friends or other things in common. But over time there is a lot of signal the app can use to get better at this. For example, it won't notify you multiple times about the same person in the same location, because that probably means they are a coworker or a roommate. If you and I both like the same band, it's a lot cooler to know that if it's an obscure band. If I'm in San Francisco right now, I don't really care to know that the person next to me is also from San Francisco. But if I'm in Zanzibar, that's very interesting. The app should understand these things and get smarter over time, so it delivers you the most surprising and relevant information without your having to think about it.

I'm assuming Highlight will be up and running at South by Southwest?

Davison: Yes, we're very excited for SXSW.

So here's the really important question. Robert Scoble and others have already been pumping up Highlight as the app that everyone's going to use to organize themselves and their friends at SXSW. Are you ready for the sudden onslaught of users and traffic?

Davison: We're working hard to make sure that we are. Given the density of users, SXSW will be a very unique environment, but if we do our jobs, we think Highlight can make Austin so much more fun for everyone. It will show what you have in common with the people you are meeting, let you browse others in the room, notify you when friends are at a party next door, and help you remember everyone long after you've left. It's such a great showcase for what the technology can do. It's going to be really exciting to see.

Article


I find this creepy.

[fishandchips]

I am never downloading this to my smartphone. It sounds like an instantaneous, more annoying version of Facebook.

[Wyn]

Gertie Keddle, on 04 March 2012 - 11:39 AM, said:

I find this creepy.

Stay the hell away from my cel phone.

[USNJIMRET]

Pretty certain that I do NOT want, potentially, every 'fact' about me to be instantly available to complete strangers that I happen to be in physical proximity to.
One never knows just what information, factual or invented, would be shared.
Or how any particular person would react to said information.
And any promises that there will be "privacy/content controls" that will prevent embarrassing and/or damning 'facts' from being inadvertently shared are so much vapor.
Just look at how many supposedly "secure" computer systems are hacked in to by any number of well organized and very effective groups now.
If/when vast amounts of personal data is suddenly available for view and capture, the threat boggles the mind!

Agree with Wyn, stay the hell away from my cell phone!

[intotheblackhole]

Buy stock in this company. It will go through the roof and be the next Google/Apple/Microsoft.

In 10 years, if the world survives that long, you will be glad you did.

More than likely it will get bought out by some big company like Google or be copied by other companies.

[Mr. E. Monkey]

Wyn, on 04 March 2012 - 12:33 PM, said:

Stay the hell away from my cel phone.

I don't care so much about my phone, just leave me alone!

[Jeffersonfan]

Sounds like social media jumping the shark, to me.

Prediction: epic fail.

[Adam Smithee]

Now, if someone can just write an app to insulate me from all the idiots out there.

In Pascal it would be something like:

IF {
Voted_Obama_2008 = True OR
Member_PETA = True OR
Drives + (Prius OR Volt)= true } THEN
SET MinKeepAwayDistance = 100 Yards

This post has been edited by Adam Smithee: 04 March 2012 - 02:51 PM

[Mr. E. Monkey]

Adam Smithee, on 04 March 2012 - 02:46 PM, said:

Now, if someone can just write an app to insulate me from all the idiots out there.

In Pascal it would be something like:

IF {
Voted_Obama_2008 = True OR
Member_PETA = True OR
Drives + (Prius OR Volt)= true } THEN
SET MinKeepAwayDistance = 100 Yards

Now that's an app I'd download gladly!

[USNJIMRET]

Adam Smithee, on 04 March 2012 - 02:46 PM, said:

Now, if someone can just write an app to insulate me from all the idiots out there.

In Pascal it would be something like:

IF {
Voted_Obama_2008 = True OR
Member_PETA = True OR
Drives + (Prius OR Volt)= true } THEN
SET MinKeepAwayDistance = 100 Yards

I believe that if you included options for couple of other variables, you would have the must have app!
Something to factor in wind speed and direction relative to ones self comes to mind.
Plus some way to calculate the ambient room/space conditions as they relate to, and influence, the transmission and reception of the noise generated by the well defined idiots you are seeking to exclude from your personal sphere of reality.
There are likely some other vacillating conditions that might further enhance your app, providing ever increased protection from the idiots of the world.
But those were what came to mind on the spur of the moment.

[horseman]

Yay. Another reason for people to walk (or drive) along with their face buried in an electronic device, completely ignoring those about them.

[Bookdoc]

I can't see this becoming popular with anybody older than 23. It's too intrusive and stalkerish for anyone else. Just ick.

[erp]

Didn't I see this on an episode of Lie To Me?

[ThePatriot]

intotheblackhole, on 04 March 2012 - 01:08 PM, said:

Buy stock in this company. It will go through the roof and be the next Google/Apple/Microsoft.

In 10 years, if the world survives that long, you will be glad you did.

More than likely it will get bought out by some big company like Google or be copied by other companies.

I agree. Just about everyone who FaceBooks and Twitters will use this app.

On a personal level, I agree with those who find this waaaayyyy too intrusive.

[Timothy]

Do they expect people to talk to greet each other after using this?

"Hey my phone says we have this in common!"

[Mr. E. Monkey]

Timothy, on 06 March 2012 - 01:26 AM, said:

Do they expect people to talk to greet each other after using this?

"Hey my phone says we have this in common!"

Nah, a text if they're lucky, probably just click a "like" button and keep walking.

[De Oppresso Liber]

Yup. Very creepy.

[Censport]

fishandchips, on 04 March 2012 - 12:32 PM, said:

I am never downloading this to my smartphone. It sounds like an instantaneous, more annoying version of Facebook.

I'm never going to have a "smart"phone.

[Noclevermoniker]

Timothy, on 06 March 2012 - 01:26 AM, said:

Do they expect people to talk to greet each other after using this?

"Hey my phone says we have this in common!"

No, in Austin it will be more like, "Isn't Obama just dreamy?"

[USNRETWIFE]

I find it disturbing. Every teen will want it and every perv who like 'em young. Kids already get into trouble by divulging too much info on other social media.

This post has been edited by USNRETWIFE: 07 March 2012 - 07:34 PM