Love Machine

Love Machine is a SMS-based communication system for singles nights that is currently implemented twice a month at Hugs in Brooklyn. It is also the first app by Publk, Inc, a new venture by Matt Young and I, which makes applications for public spaces. The goal of Love Machine is not just to get lonely bar patrons talking to one another; its broader goal is to allow everyone, including bartenders, DJs, patrons and even bouncers, at the bar equal opportunity to communicate on the same level. Bartenders can offer deals and conduct drink contests, DJs can take requests or set a theme for discussion, patrons talk about patron stuff, and everyone talk amongst themselves. Users who want to simply observe the conversation can follow the Twitter feed. The system is loose enough to allow any type of contest, game, or discussion topic with the ability for the admin to text a random or unique user, but tight enough to moderate the participants as well. Participants can also request permission to send a private message to another user. People are free to say whatever they want, but controls are built in to deal with creeps and trouble makers.

Love Machine’s back end is a PHP/MySQL driven application with typical user account management features. The control layer handles all the custom messaging features and interfaces with the model.

Here is a basic chart of how it all works, followed by photos from the event.

Users wearing their number badges for pseudo-anonymity

The text is ubiquitous and drives the the event

The DJ/Admin giving away a free beer

Photos by Jake Alper