Eyebees, a Dutch-based start-up, has launched a beta version of a software application bearing the company's name that allows users to become either part of or lead an on-line "swarm" as they navigate the Internet

According to George Witteveen, one of the founders of Eyebees, the idea behind the Eyebees application is to make Internet surfing a more communal experience. "At the moment, Internet surfing is a boring experience. There are millions of people around the world on-line all at the same time, but most Internet users would have no contact with any of these people, accept maybe with a few through instant messaging. Eyebees though creates clusters of people and transforms Internet surfing into a social activity," Witteveen told. With Eyebees, if you join a "swarm" your Web browser will track the movement of the swarm as it goes from Web page to Web page. The swarm, however, will not be able to enter secure sites such as Web-based e-mail sites like Hotmail. Users of the application can either join a "swarm" or create their own under one of six categories such as politics, government and social activism, and music and entertainment. According to Witteveen, the service is anonymous with users only identified by their nicknames. Eyebees also does not log what sites people swarm to. The free beta version was released at the start of March and currently over 60 swarms have formed, although activity on them was low on Friday afternoon.