Operation Match
Operation Match was the first computer dating service in the United States, begun in 1965. The predecessor of this was created in London and was called St. James Computer Dating Service (later to become Com-Pat), started by Joan Ball in 1964.[1]
The initial idea was to pair Ivy League men with students at the Seven Sisters women’s colleges.[2] Users filled out a 75-point paper questionnaire, covering hobbies, education, physical appearance, race and attitudes towards sex, that could then be mailed with a $3 fee.[1][2] The questionnaire was geared to young college students seeking a date, not a marriage partner. Questions included "Do you believe in a God who answers prayer?" and "Is extensive sexual activity in preparation for marriage part of 'growing up?'" Participants were asked to answer twice, once describing themselves, the other describing their ideal date.[1][3]
The questionnaires were transferred to punched cards[4] and processed on an IBM 7090 computer at the Avco service bureau in Wilmington, Massachusetts.[5] A week or two later, the user received an IBM 1401 print out in the mail listing the names and telephone numbers of five potential matches.[6] Approximately 90,000 questionnaires were completed after six months of launch,[1] with more than 100,000 respondents paired.[2]
Operation Match was started by Harvard University undergraduate students Jeffrey C. Tarr, David L. Crump and Vaughan Morrill, with help from Douglas H. Ginsburg, then a student at Cornell University.[5] Tarr, Crump and Ginsburg formed a company named Compatibility Research, Inc. and rolled out the service in several cities.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Tacita Quinn (September 29, 2024). "'It felt risqué:' How a computer dating service launched in 1965 changed our love lives". CNN. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c Barbara Spindel (August 30, 2024). "'Operation Match' Review: Inventing Dating by Data". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ Shenon, Philip (October 30, 1987). "Nominee Left College to be Matchmaker" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- ^ Shalit, Gene (February 22, 1966). "New dating craze sweeps the campus, boy... girl...computer". Look Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- ^ a b c Mathews, T. Jay (November 3, 1965). "Operation Match". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- ^ Lien, Tracey (January 28, 2015). "New dating apps cut to the chase, set up dates quickly". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
