How the internet keeps us in touch.

I have never been much of a sleeper. In daytime I can feel really tired and find myself having mini dozes, but once the night-time comes I can often find myself wide awake, lying in bed and watching the clock go around. Because of this, I tend to go to bed later and spend night time hours on the internet – blogging, updating photo albums on Facebook and finding new and interesting websites. I even sometimes play a game of Bingo.

When trawling the web last night I came across the Bingocams site, which offers live Bingo games with a new twist. The site has incorporated webcams into the mix, which mean that you can now chat to any player in the bingo room by using the room chat option that you will find at the bottom of the page. Each room has a chat host who can start and supervise chats to keep the atmosphere fun, friendly and positive.

I think this is a lovely idea, for those who are on their own, or those who have a hobby which the rest of their family is not really interested in – it offers camaraderie and opportunities for chat. I think this is something that the internet has been really good at – making the world smaller by bringing people together (albeit virtually).

From my own point of view, the internet has been brilliant in allowing me to keep in touch with family members, and also in giving an opportunity to make new friends. My brother has recently moved to Stoke, and work commitments mean I don’t see him as much as before, but I can share photographs and updates about Joe through Facebook, and do this all the time. I also do the same for family we have living in Spain who love to see what is happening on this side of the world.  Online chat is so much cheaper than telephone bills, and although it cannot take the place of hearing someone’s voice, it does mean you can keep in touch more regularly.

I have also made so many good friends through Twitter, including the lovely Emily Jayne, and QVC television presenter Marverine Cole, who I chatted to a lot and finally met for the first time last week. Twitter allows you to walk into a room and feel you know people, even though you have only spoken through 140 characters.

The internet may be wrong on so many levels, but it is right on so many others. Making the big world seem that little bit smaller, and loved ones feeling closer, is one of its greatest achievements.

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