http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/12/news/networks.php

In Europe, some companies are taking an innovative approach to integrate a physical social network and an online physics network. These companies are helping individuals find other people they share something in common with. For instance, the Xing social network has become a popular tool for European businessmen by providing details of “interests, experience and personal history.” The network has essentially become a tool for linking individuals.

Another such company is Imity. Their approach seems much more radical. Imity builds up a list of who a certain individual has come in contact with. Over time, the network will be able to show which individuals share many friends, yet do not have a link between them. In this sense, the Imity network is aiding in the triadic closures between these people. Also, the network can help individuals with common interests meet. Here, Imity would aid in a “focal closure” similar to the one described in paper “The Strength of Weak Ties” by Mark S. Granovetter (except in this case, common interests replace common classes). Imity also incorporates the use of blue tooth devices in their network. Whenever someone who shares many friends or interests with you is near, the system will be able to tell you so. Thus, Imity uses its online networking to help create a link in the physical (real world) social network.