article "Hierarchical Encoding Makes Individuals in a Group Seem More Attractive"

http://www.evullab.org/pdf/WalkerVul-PS-2013.pdf
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/10/25/0956797613497969
http://www.businessinsider.com/people-look-more-attractive-in-groups-2015-3



ONLY ONE ROAD TO ACHIEVE INNOVATIONS  
The Online Dating Industry needs Innovations, but the innovations the Online Dating Industry needs will come from only one source: the latest discoveries in theories of romantic relationships development with commitment. 
Only 3 major discoveries can help to revolutionize the online dating industry.
I) Several studies showing contraceptive pills users make different mate choices, on average, compared to non-users. "Only short-term but not long-term partner preferences tend to vary with the menstrual cycle"
II) People often report partner preferences that are not compatible with their choices in real life. (FORGET Behavioural recommender systems  or other system that learns your preferences)
III) What is important in attracting people to one another may not be important in making couples happy. Compatibility is all about a high level on personality similarity between prospective mates for long term mating with commitment.

Please read: The 8 tips to innovate in the Online Dating Industry!
http://onlinedatingsoundbarrier.blogspot.com.ar/2013/12/the-8-tips-to-innovate-in-online-dating.html
The Online Dating Industry does not need a 10% improvement, a 50% improvement or a 100% improvement. It does need "a 100 times better improvement", not 100% better, 100X better == a big INNOVATION.

The Online Dating Industry needs a very powerful algorithm like the "Teller Ulam design". In this case 100 times more powerful than actual matching algorithms.
http://onlinedatingsoundbarrier.blogspot.com.ar/2014/05/lifeproject-method-versus-eharmony.html