Not surprisingly, their findings focus on the flaws of the “online” portion of the equation, and how difficult it is to predict and create human matches based on purely digital interactions.  Simply put, no matter how far technology has come, the internet doesn’t decide who you’re going to fall in love with – you do.

Study co-authors Eli J. Finkel and Benjamin R. Karney weigh in in a recent New York Times article:

Because they gather data from singles who have never met, [online dating] sites have no way of knowing how two people will interact once they have been matched. Yet our review of the literature reveals that aspects of relationships that emerge only after two people meet and get to know each other — things like communication patterns, problem-solving tendencies and sexual compatibility — are crucial for predicting the success or failure of relationships.

So why exactly are we so pleased to hear this?  It’s simple – we’ve doubted the value of algorithm-based matching for a long time, and that’s exactly where the idea for myMatchmaker came from.   We’ve long felt that computers can’t capture our most important qualities, and honestly, sometimes we can’t even figure ourselves out. Oftentimes, it’s those who know us best that can “read” things about us, helping to find a truly compatible match.  It almost makes you wonder if they should be filling out your online profile.

Of course, we agree with Dr. Finkel & co. that it takes an in-person meeting to really gauge long-term compatibility, but let’s not write off online communities entirely here.  It’s that first step in meeting someone that’s the hardest, and by bringing in real human matchmakers, we’re well on our way to fixing this problem.  And hey, it doesn’t take five scientists to tell you that.

New York Times: Online Dating Sites Don’t Match Hype

Check it out: Because dating sites suck, this startup finds you love like in that movie Hitch

Edit:  We’re apparently also a hit over on the Spanish blogosphere, as seen here on wwwhatsnew.com

NYTM is the premier event for technologists in New York, offering 9-10 of the hottest local startups a chance to share their vision with 800+ tech professionals at each monthly meeting. The team behind NYTM has creating an amazingly supportive environment for growing companies to share and learn, and we’re excited to be presenting alongside several really innovative startups at February’s event.

With Valentines Day right around the corner, the timing couldn’t be better, and we’ve planned an action-packed demo that captures what myMatchmaker’s site and community are all about. We may even have a surprise up our sleeves, so stay tuned!

For anyone interested in attending or watching the demos, you can find details at the link below. Tickets sell out early, but they’ve recently introduced new livestream options to watch the event remotely.

See you on Febuary 8th!

http://www.meetup.com/ny-tech/

We’re really excited to be building the first online dating site to harness the power of real-life matchmakers, so check back soon to stay current on what we’re up to.

We have big plans for the blog, including matchmaker profiles, dating and relationship tips, and of course, regular progress updates as we continue to grow the community and site.

In the meantime, follow us on facebook and twitter to join in the conversation.

facebook: myMatchmaker
twitter: @myMatchmaker