I've been astonished at how quickly the merger of the online and offline world has taken place. I blogged a while back about how social communities online need to pull their people together in the real world. Well, I've been living this phenomenon for a while without really comprehending it. I've actually already met a bunch of people via Twitter who simply happened to be in the same place as I. It's been a great experience and I made friends with at least five pretty cool people if not more. I have also been realizing how common it's now to hear a couple openly admit that they met via online dating. At dinner last night a business acquaintance practically was a poster child. He met his partner via FriendScout24 and they are already awaiting their second child. He couldn't be more positive and open about it. Only a couple years back you wouldn't dare admit you were dating online. I bet now every third or fourth couple gets together this way. This is why I am so optimistic about the mash-ups happening right now in the online world to facilitate real world interaction be it for fun, for busines, or for love. Add location based services to Twitter with a bit of Facebook thrown in as well as FriendScout or Match.com, put it on the mobile and we're rockin'. There is still so much which can be done here and I look forward to all the opportunities out there. Just think how powerful a platform could emerge if someone truly cracks this nut!
