Automated In-Person Gathering Organizer System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Internet-based communication tools are inadequate for organizing real-world gatherings around a common topic of interest, as they lack the ability to facilitate in-person meetings, self-organization of strangers with shared interests, and efficient venue selection in specific geographic locations.
Innovation Solution
A computer-assisted system that automates the organization, scheduling, and venue selection for in-person gatherings by allowing users to select a topic and location, with features like voting on preferred venues and automatic cancellation if minimum participation thresholds are not met, enabling both leaderless and leader-organized chapters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If Internet communication tools (email, chat rooms, message boards) are used to organize gatherings, then online communication capability is improved, but the ability to facilitate in-person meetings and self-organization of strangers is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple functions into a single platform: it provides online communication tools (email, chat rooms, message boards) while simultaneously adding capabilities for organizing in-person gatherings, matching participants by location and interest, managing venue selections, and coordinating logistics. This multi-functional approach allows the system to serve both online communication and offline gathering organization needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary matching mechanism that connects strangers with shared interests based on geographic location and gathering preferences. This intermediary layer processes participant information, identifies compatible groups, and facilitates introductions, enabling self-organization without requiring pre-existing social networks or manual coordination.
2Ease of operation
If manual organization methods are used for real-world gatherings, then flexibility in planning is improved, but the complexity and time required to coordinate participants and venues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically matching participants based on their profiles, interests, and location data before the gathering takes place. It pre-identifies potential groups, suggests suitable venues, and prepares coordination logistics in advance, reducing the manual effort required during the actual event organization.
Solution Approach 2:
Participants use the system to self-organize into groups based on their own preferences and availability. The system automatically processes their inputs, matches them with compatible participants, and manages the coordination without requiring intensive manual intervention from organizers, thereby reducing coordination complexity while maintaining flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If venue selection is done manually through discussions, then participant preferences can be considered, but the time and effort required for decision-making increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a voting mechanism where participants express their venue preferences, and the system automatically tallies the results to identify the most popular choice. This feedback loop allows participant preferences to be systematically considered and converted into a decisive outcome, balancing adaptability with efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes venue options based on participant locations, interests, and availability before the voting stage. By narrowing down the venue choices in advance and presenting a curated list to participants, the system reduces the decision-making burden while still allowing meaningful input from all participants.
4Ease of operation
If gatherings are organized without minimum participation thresholds, then accessibility is improved, but the reliability of event occurrence decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes minimum participation thresholds in advance as a condition for gathering formation. This preliminary criterion ensures that only gatherings with sufficient interest and expected attendance are approved, filtering out events that are unlikely to occur and thereby improving reliability while maintaining accessibility for legitimate gatherings.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-assisted method, computer system, and program product provide the functionality of a portal for persons to find, based on a topic of interest, the nearest relevant in-person gathering of other persons interested in the topic as well. The system provides for the automated creation of groups and for their automatic sustainment through automatic scheduling of periodic gatherings. Strangers in geographic proximity are automatically brought together into chapters formed around the topic of interest. Chapters may be led by organizers, and gatherings may have hosts. Automatic functions for venue selection, venue voting, cancellation, and feedback are provided.