» google wave

Google Wave is a new online communications tool that enables groups of people to edit and discuss documents simultaneously on the web. The Google Wave team says Wave is "what email would look like if it were invented today." 

However, because Wave is mostly a document collaboration tool, the oversimplified email metaphor can mislead new users. The initial Wave experience can feel chaotic and confusing, but use cases for Wave abound. Come on in and meet Wave.

Google Wave’s biggest downfall is how confusing it can be for new users when they try it out. Parody web site www.EasierToUnderstandThanWave.com jokes that heady topics like radiocarbon dating, neoclassical economics, and polymodal chromaticism are easier to understand than Wave.

The joke rings true because the initial Wave confusion is a nearly universal experience. The first waves you’re bound to receive from your friends and co-workers, fresh on Wave, will say things like "I don’t get it" and "This is weird."

The Wave tool is kinda odd to me too and at first it was notoriously difficult to understand. This guide will help. Here you’ll learn how to use Google Wave to get things done with your group. Because Wave is such a new product that’s evolving quickly, this guidebook is a work in progress that will update in concert with Wave as it grows and changes.

The Complete Guide to Google Wave is a comprehensive user manual by Gina Trapani with Adam Pash. Read more about The Complete Guide to Google Wave.

So ok I just recently wrote the The Social Networking Trinity article and gave my top 3 best social tools. Then comes Google Wave in a demo from Lars Rasmussen, Software Engineering Manager.

Google Wave is a product that helps users communicate and collaborate on the web. A "wave" is equal parts conversation and document, where users can almost instantly communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.

Dude, my ENTIRE WORLD just changed today. Everything I though about being way in the future was suddenly in a 80 minute presentation. Yeah, it is a ‘geeky’ kinda love right now. But the beauty of this platform is that when it rolls out to the public, they will GET IT almost over night!

• The ability to speak to each other in real time, viewing as the person types give a one-up on instant messages and chats.
• The instant chatting gives a one-up on Twitter, Facebook, IM and the others.
• The file sharing with drag and drop from desktop to browser… OMG, I think I am in heaven.
• And so much more…

I have included the entire 80 min presentation, but it does get geek speak pretty quick. If you are like me, you will watch it all. But if that is not your bag, then check out the quick links below…

1. A really cool demo of the spell checker intelligence. The Bean Soup Demo
2. A Twitter extension demo… Click HERE
3. A seriously awesome demo of the translation ability… Click HERE