The next car-sharing trip you make in an Uber might end up connecting you to a long-lost school buddy. According to a patent filed by Uber Technologies, the car-sharing company wants to integrate its UberPool service to user data from Facebook so you can get to know who you’re riding with.
Of course, we’re assuming the integration will be optional, and the available data will depend on who turns the service on. Since it’s just an idea at the moment, there’s no way of telling whether or not this project will actually be realized.
However, quite a few details have been shared via the patent application. This is how Uber wants the UberPool part of your Uber app to work.
Essentially, the integration will allow Uber to let you know if you’re connected with other riders in any way, like the school you went to, companies you’ve worked for, where you grew up, where you were born, what hobbies you have and so on.
Uber wants to make the UberPool experience “less awkward”, but instead of making you more comfortable, will knowing that other passengers can see your past make things feel a little more awkward instead of less so?
On the bright side, Uber is looking at functionality where you’ll be able to pick a carpool that’s only carrying people you’re linked with. It sounds highly impractical but that’s what Uber seems to be going after.
But the company wants it to be a two-way communication between Facebook and the Uber platform. They want you to be able to be able to control things directly from within Facebook. For example, if you’ve been invited to an event, you’ll be able to book a ride with others from your location (people you’ve got something in common with) going to the same event.
The patent has not been granted, but even if it is, we can’t be certain that this plan will see the light of day. It might be a useful feature to have in certain circumstances, but what if your co-passenger is that fifth grade math teacher who couldn’t stand your guts?
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