As integral as hosted exchange and emails have become to the way the world communicates, it is easy to forget that this technology has existed for nearly forty years. During the past four decades, this mode of communication has undergone remarkably little change compared to how much other forms of technology has evolved during this time. However, the adoption of Google Wave by the business community and the average computer user stands to revolutionize communication in ways that most people never thought possible.
Google Wave is the next generation in electronic communication that allows users to share information in a real time environment. With Google wave, multiple people can contribute to and elaborate upon an original message, and you can bring others into the conversation in such a way that lets them get up to speed instantly. This collaborative element of Google Wave is strikingly open ended, allowing people to work together on virtually any project.
The classic example of how Google Wave works is if you are making plans to meet up for an appointment. You can begin by sending a message, or Wave, to a client asking when and where to meet. As the Wave evolves, you and the client can add a Google map with directions to the meeting. You can then add everyone else who needs to know about the meeting to the Wave, and they can use the useful playback feature to see how the Wave evolved from the original message to the present. Once they are up to speed, they can then join the conversation or just indicate whether can or can’t make the meeting by using the simple invitation gadget in Google Wave.
However, Google Wave has much more potential in the workplace than simple messaging. A Wave can also function as work platform that allows for real time document collaboration. Wave allows users to insert documents, spreadsheets and pictures to the Wave, and each user can collaborate on the multiple media platforms of a project directly from the Wave. A project manager can then use the playback feature to see how the work is coming along and provide further instruction.
It remains to be seen whether Google Wave will have the impact that proponents of the program suggest. The success of Wave rests largely on the willingness of casual users to incorporate into their existing communication platforms, and some Google tools have been more widely adopted than others. However, the outlook is currently very positive that Google Wave represents a major step toward collaboration being the focus of messaging in the future.
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