The web helps real life neighbours meet

I often stumble across a piece of news which is interesting and related to online communities. I make a mental note of this, and usually blog about it a few days later when I have time. I was reading the news on my phone when I found an article detailing a French site I though I should give a mention.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/6233429.stm (BBC News, 2007)

Peuplade stores peoples locations on a google map, in order for people who live near each other to meet in real life. I thought this was a really interesting idea, as it sort of turns the concept of the internet on its head. Usually, the internet is about meeting people virtually who usually live very far away. This site seems to use the internet in order to meet people in real life who live close to you.

Whilst I've not been able to try the site out myself, as I can't read French, the idea sounds very modern, whilst at the same time managing to keep to traditional values of meeting people in a real life community. I don't know if I'd use a site like this or not myself if a British one appeared, but I'd certainly look into it.

BBC News (2007) Parisian neighbours meet online [internet], BBC. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/6233429.stm [Accessed 10 January 2007].