Crossing the Virtual Street

By Deirdre van Dyk

Two new sites, I-Neighbors org and MeetTheNeighbors org want to use the Internet not as an on-ramp to the information superhighway but as a way to help you learn a little more about your street. Launched by M.I.T. professor Keith Hampton, INeighbors.org allows users to create a home page for their community that others can access by registering. Members advise one another about local services such as the best plumbers or baby sitters or spread the word about changes in local government. By registering for MeetTheNeighbors.org a site run by Jared Nissim, a New York City--based Web entrepreneur, you join a local message board. You can view members' profiles, read postings by locals and be notified about events like barbecues. There isn't a secure way of sharing personal profiles on these sites, so it's best to give minimal information. But in the end you just might turn a neighbor into a friend. --By Deirdre van Dyk