Look out Facebook

Someone posted a link to Lle Aeth Pawb? (Where did everyone go?) on maes-e recently. I don't think it's intended to be launched yet, particularly as the word 'test' appears in the url. Anyway, it's a website to coincide with a series that will appear on S4C next year. The idea behind the series is that long lost friends are reunited, what a great idea! Yes, this could turn out to be another lame S4C program, and it's obviously been inspired by the Facebook revolution.

Having said that, the site looks really good. I've created an account to have a bit of a nose. You then create your profile. Every primary and secondary school, college and university in Wales is listed as default. You're then encouraged to up-load old photos with keywords/tags in both Welsh and English, which other users can leave comments on. This classic photo from 1987 will do nothing to dispel the myth that all Welsh Speakers are farmers!

As you'll have noticed, the site is fully bilingual (although while browsing in Welsh, many pages direct you to English versions at the moment, I guess it's work in progress). Also, it would be useful to be able to click on your school name on your profile to see who else went there.

Even if the program will be complete pants, it at least has a decent website, the first proper social networking site available in Welsh. The only thing is, if it become popular (40+ have signed up already before it's even launched), will it still be kept live once the show is over?

The company behind the show and the website are Cwmni Da from Caernarfon. I've noticed the make use of new Web2.0 technologies to compliment the shows they're commisioned to do for S4C. During the Eisteddfod they were responsible for the Sioe Gelf (The Arts Show), and the website to coincide with the show (now taken down sadly) included blogs by different people at the Eisteddfod (competitors, judges, band members, commentators etc). Although Cwmni Da themselves don't seem to have a website of their own!