How WaveSign.me Works
What is WaveSign?
WaveSign is an agreed gesture. You wave at someone. It means: "find me on wavesign.me". Then you come here. You briefly describe that person, yourself and the situation. You mark the place and time. You enter your email (nobody will see it). The other person searches WaveSigns by place and time. When they recognise the situation, they write to you. You get an email and reply if you want to.
Wave offline, connect online
You give the sign in the real world. For the rest you come here later, whenever it suits you.
- Waving needs no phone: no signal, no battery, no app. Your hand is enough.
- The other person doesn't need to install anything. They only need to know "wavesign.me".
- It works even when the other person is already gone: behind the train window, in the crowd, across the street.
How to leave a WaveSign
- Click "I gave a WaveSign"
- Briefly describe the person you gave the WaveSign to, yourself and the situation
- Click on the map to mark the place
- Enter your email. That's where the reply goes. Nobody else will see it
- Save and click the link we email you
- …and wait for the other person to find your WaveSign and write to you!
How to find a WaveSign
- Click "I got a WaveSign"
- Enter when it was. As precisely as you remember
- Mark the approximate place on the map where you were at the time
- Set your search radius
- Click "Find WaveSigns" to see the entries for that place and time
- If the description matches the situation, write to that person. Your message and your email go to them; if it's the right person, they'll reply.
Use Cases
- A brief encounter on a train, in a café, at a concert. No chance to swap contacts? Wave and leave a WaveSign.
- Someone left something on the train and already got off? Wave through the window. Describe the item and the person here. They'll find you and pick it up.
- Saw someone who vanished into the crowd before you could walk over? Let them know you wanted to say hello.
- Someone helped you on the road, at the station, in a shop, and there was no time to say thanks? Leave a WaveSign with your thanks.
- You're sitting in a restaurant. You'd like to talk to the next table, but it feels awkward? Wave and leave a WaveSign.
- You wave, but the other person doesn't know WaveSign? Just say "wavesign.me". Then leave an entry so they can find you.
Lost or found something on a train? Here is how it works step by step.
Parking damage or an accident and the other driver is gone? Here is how to reach a witness.
Frequently asked questions
What if the person I waved at doesn't know WaveSign?
The gesture alone isn't enough. The other person has to know where to look for you. If you get the chance, say or show: "wavesign.me". No chance? Leave an entry anyway. Many people end up here out of curiosity, because someone waved at them.
Do I need a phone or the app at the moment I wave?
No. Waving is analog. You leave the WaveSign later, when you have time and a device: on your phone or computer, via the website or the app. The other person doesn't need anything on their phone either. They only need to know "wavesign.me" and look later.
How long is my WaveSign visible?
30 days from the time you enter under "When was it?". Not from when you save it or confirm your email. Example: a WaveSign from 1 March, saved on 20 March, is visible until 31 March. After that it can't be found any more. After 2 years we delete it for good (see the privacy policy).
Is it free?
Yes. The service is funded by ads. There are no accounts, fees or premium tiers.
What data do you keep and who can see it?
Public: the descriptions, place and time. Private: your email (nobody sees it, it's only used to pass the reply on to you) and technical data, e.g. the IP address. Those protect against abuse. Details in the privacy policy.
Someone wrote to me, but it's not the right person. What now?
Nothing. Just don't reply. That person doesn't know your email. They'll only see it when you reply.
I didn't get the confirmation mail. What now?
Check your spam folder and make sure the address was typed correctly. We delete an unconfirmed WaveSign after 7 days. If the mail never arrived, simply leave the entry again.
I'd like to try WaveSign first. How?
The map has example entries in larger cities, marked "Example". Write to one of them. The mail the other person would normally get goes to your own address. Want to go the whole way? Leave a WaveSign with your own address, confirm it via the link in the mail, find it on the map, write to yourself, and finally delete the entry via the link in the mail.
How do I delete my WaveSign?
Through the link in the mail. The confirmation mail you got when you left the WaveSign contains a link that deletes it right away; keep that mail. The same link is in every mail that brings you a reply. There is no login and no account: the link is the only key to your entry, and it works until the entry is deleted for good after 2 years.
I don't have that mail any more. How do I delete the WaveSign?
Find your WaveSign on the map (same place, same time) and use "Report" on its card. Choose "Something else", write that this is your own entry and you want it removed, and confirm the report via the mail you get. A moderator then takes the entry off the map, so nobody can find it or write to you any more. Keep in mind that a WaveSign disappears from the search on its own 30 days after the time you entered.
Privacy & Security
The description, place and time are public. Anyone searching in that area and time can see them. Your email is never shown anywhere. It's only used to pass the reply on to you. A bot check and limits protect us from spam.
Who is behind WaveSign?
WaveSign.me is developed and operated by e77code GmbH in Walkringen, Switzerland. The service is free; you can reach us via the contact details in the Impressum.