A nature-inspired improvement of the trade fair matchmaking process

Abstract

This report will describe the analysis of two topics: the pheromone based communication method used by ants in their foraging behaviour, and the phenomenon of trade fairs. This natural communication model has been analyzed and its defining characteristics have been abstracted, after which they have been used to design a product that solves the problems experienced by the visitors and exhibitors that participate in trade fairs: The EvAnt Matchmaker. This product can best be described as a self-enriching system of indirect mass communication, in which trade fair visitors receive subtle suggestions on which stands to visit based on the opinions of previous like-minded visitors. The purpose of this design is to help visitors find the rights exhibitors during a trade fair visit, on the basis of their actual content rather than superficial factors. Visitors and exhibitors interact with the data in this system through two products: a personal device worn by all visitors and a stand device present at each exhibitor. These two products allow visitors to leave their profile (personal interests and objectives) at interesting exhibitors by scanning their personal device at their stand devices similar to the way ants leave their pheromones at interesting food sources. Stand devices then use this collected data to find potentially interested visitors by transmitting it to the personal devices of those who are in close proximity, which then nudge their user towards the exhibitor whose previous visitors best match his/her profile. Furthermore, this design allows exhibitors to visually acquire information about a visitor’s profile by simply reading their badges. This allows them to be more efficient in their work by focusing their effort on visitors they expect to be a good match based on their interests and objectives.