Abstract: A mobile social networking system that provides aspects of an augmented reality experience comprising a wireless infrastructure; at least one central server having a at least one database of users; a mobile scanner that scans for other users through the use of an identification mechanism, queries the server, and downloads the user profiles and displays them on an inconspicuous viewing device. An unobtrusively manipulable input device is used to select and navigate through the profiles. The invention provides a system for obtaining additional social and other information about nearby users in an unobtrusive manner to avoid detection by others.