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We spent a weekend contemplating fun uses for the Uber API. Here are a couple ideas that we abandoned - feel free to use as you wish:

* "Bar roulette" where you would hit a button, an uber would show up, then take you to a random bar sourced from Yelp.

* Last-minute ticket sales to events (e.g. in the hour before they start) that include transportation

* Having bars or clubs offer to drive people there for free and bid based on demographics of the user like an ad - e.g. "We need more people in this age range, of this gender, etc." They would set a bid, and the app would ping people that matched the criteria and offer to drive them there for free if the estimated fare was less than the bid.




That third one reads like something out of a Gibson novel. Might work best with a pre-defined group of people (e.g., models in an agency) or something similar.


"like something out of a Gibson novel.", "models in an agency".

While not politically correct, it would be interesting to run an outcall escort service with this. Throw in an AirBNB API...

Disclaimer: The above is just a thought. I do not condone this use case.


This is what chatroulette should have turned into.


Or Tinder even.


An app for blind dates. Combines Tinder, Yelp, Uber, and Airbnb, with a pretty workflow over the top. Call it 'Dial-a-date'.


Airbnb might be a bit presumptuous.


You're giving Uber some ideas.


There could be all kinds of uses. Imagine a product launch event - "We need to pack a room so the press is impressed. Want anybody and everybody - tell them we have free food."


That'll get them to the location, but how long will they stick around.


As long as the food is free and they are not yet satisfied. Drip feed them.


Offer return rides at the appointed time :)




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