Just recently like a lot of people, I have learned of the new and upcoming Google Wave. For those of you unfamiliar and don’t have time to watch a one hour and twenty minute video, Google Wave appears to be the next big thing for collaboration and communication online. By now I’m sure a large number of us know the practical uses for a Wiki. From creating a public database to simply organizing data and projects, Wiki’s have become one of the bigger methods of online collaboration, seeing as users can write and edit data with their peers.
One of Google Wave’s primary features includes something very much like e-mail, but a step further. Rather than continually “forwarding” messages between a group of people, Wave lets you add and remove people from the conversation whenever and they won’t miss anything. Wave also offers a new chat system where users can actually see what the other is typing, live, rather than “Buddy is typing…” Perhaps the most impressive feature Wave offers however is its Collaboration feature. Imagine working on a Wiki with others but only one person is allowed to edit the page at a time. Here’s where things have changed; apparently anyone who’s part of a project can edit a page live with everyone else. This meaning, you see every letter they add and word they change, as they’re doing it, and you see what you’re doing to. Very impressive.
Google is also offering API’s so developers can build onto what Wave can do.
If anyone has spare invitations to send out, please feel free to send me one. I might just give you a *high-five!*