I like the idea but it could use a little sprucing up to become actionable:<p>1) Let me enter conversation topics. Or just ice breaker topics. In my head the table headings would read: Hi, I'm | @ | on | for | interested in |. Interested in would then be the place for me to dump some suggestion for breaking into a conversation. I could say "Ponies and Unicorns" so that someone would just have something comfortable to say to me other than "uh...hi, i saw your on this website". Or i could put "Communism and the fall of the USSR" to ward of small talkers.<p>2) I know you probably want to avoid having people log in and junk like that but it would be nice to (optionally) let people log in to their favorite social service (facebook, twitter) so you could pull their profile image and display it in the table. It helps with identifying people.<p>Sounds like a great idea.
I started this as an interesting way to get people communicating with each other - I'm fairly new to San Francisco, and am always interested in meeting new people to chat with, so I decided to make a site where you can post online that "i'm sitting at a coffee shop, and interested in chatting with anyone around" - then other people can go online and see which coffee shops have people at them - kind of a longwinded explanation for a simple site...I'm hoping the concept makes sense with the minimalist approach on the page.
Still need to make a mobile version, I know the JS doesn't play nice with the BBerry, not sure about iPhones - anyone out there that can try for an iPhone?
I have a recommendation for a cool new 3D surround-sound interface that will not require any additional coding. It's called: real life. Try putting down the iphone and laptop and just striking up conversations with people around you. You'll be amazed at how well it works.
And one more thing - if there are any special requests for other cities to throw into this first version, let me know...for all the help you guys at least deserve to get your city put up on the site! I saw a Milbrae and a Palo Alto - any NYC, Boston, etc.,?
I like it! As usual, the issue will be enough traffic to make it worthwhile to post. Otherwise, my interest in posting will trail off over time because of few successful link-ups. "Network effect" relevant here.
Thank you for all the feedback, some great ideas here! Sorry to those who I didn't get to send individual replies back to, the Blackberry gets a little tiring after awhile!
mp3jeep01,<p>i like it too.<p>how about getting the list of cafes at yelp?<p>Also add tags to get an idea what a person's interests are.<p>by the way, which cafe do you usually work at? i'm up for coworking in the city. msg me at dannyroa _at_ gmail.