Living in a world where cyber bullying is running rampant and physical interactions are lessening every day, it is easy to lose sight of some important traits, namely empathy and awareness; the 20 Day Stranger iPhone app hopes to help. It connects two strangers, who remain completely anonymous, and shares their daily experiences for 20 days.
Developed by MIT Media Lab’s Playful Systems research group and MIT's Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values, the 20 Day Stranger app essentially tracks people's paths while pulling related photos from Foursquare or Google Maps to fully flesh out each experience. Kevin Slavin, director, says, "We’re trying to provide just enough to the recipient of your life to allow someone to imagine it without providing actual information--it’s something in between information and imagination."
Empathy-Building Smartphone Apps
20 Day Stranger Allows Anonymous Strangers to Share Experiences
Trend Themes
1. Empathy-building Apps - As the need for empathy increases, apps like the 20 Day Stranger will continue to gain popularity.
2. Anonymous Social Sharing - As people seek alternative ways to connect without the pressure of revealing their identities, anonymous social sharing apps like 20 Day Stranger are likely to see increased use.
3. Experiential Learning Tools - Apps like 20 Day Stranger can serve as a tool for experiential learning, encouraging users to step outside of their comfort zones and gain new perspectives.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile App Development - As app technology continues to evolve, there is a significant opportunity for developers to create more empathy-building apps like 20 Day Stranger.
2. Social Media and Networking - As users seek ways to connect with others outside of identifiable platforms, there is a potential for growth in anonymous social sharing as we see with 20 Day Stranger.
3. Education - Apps like 20 Day Stranger can be utilized as experiential learning tools, helping students develop empathy by experiencing the world through different perspectives.