Ridin' The "G"-Wave

Google Wave is unlike anything we’ve all seen out on the internet. I’m by no means an expert on the subject, but because I have been able to get a preview account, I’ve been playing around with it.

First of all, you need to understand what it’s purpose is before you can really be excited for it; at least that’s the way it was for me. Wave was conceaved with the thought that went along the lines of, “what would email look like if were developed today?” And so the Google team took this idea and ran. Find out the whole story from the Google guys themselves. The rest is history, at least for them. For us it’s just beginning. What Wave does for us is to create a real-time collaborative environment, where users can post messages, select who can see the message, and then add to or edit the message in any place. Gone are the days of cut and paste into a reply message to gain maximum clarity. Just place your reply beneath the statement you’re replying to.

Along with these abilities that will virtually eliminate forwarding or replying(and hopefully get rid of “chain email”) many third party and independent developers are working on applications to fit inside a wave. Uses for these are manifold. Some of the currently available extensions include a “yes-no-maybe” poll application that makes it easy to quantify how many will attend an event or who agrees or disagrees with you. Others that can be used are a map/trip planner powered by Google Maps, handy in setting meetings or trips, video conferencing, and a few others. There will most likely be loads more by the time the official release comes around.

As with any product in beta testing, there are bugs to be hashed out, but Google is doing a great job with keeping up with a wealth of reports, as well as keeping a help forum well managed. Additional functionalities seem to be forthcoming,(probably somewhat based upon user suggestion?) like mass-selecting waves in your inbox so that you can trash or move to a different folder. At least I would like to see that feature added.

All in all, I have enjoyed my experience getting to know Google Wave. With the real time communication/collaboration at it’s core, with all of the functionality to edit and reply to specific messages and statements, to the extensions, and last but not least, the users who find great ways to use the product make Wave a real force to be rekoned with.