Google Wave – ‘Facebook’ for Business and Education

Updated…

I received an invitation via Facebook from a friend this week (thanks, Bobby!), and decided to check it out. I’d been hearing that Google Wave was supposed to be Google’s answer to Facebook, and to Twitter, and being heralded as “the next e-mail.”

In spite of my ongoing concern that Google Wave is part of Google’s shameless attempt to virtually rule the world, I had to try it. It’s still in a limited beta stage, by invitation, only.

First, let me just say that I’m impressed that the Australians that created Google Wave chose a name is a real word that makes sense logically in sentence (as opposed to “Twitter”), and that works grammatically in it’s as both a noun and a verb, as opposed to “Facebook.” But enough about my English-teacher neurosis…

Wave is like GMail, Apps, and Reader on steroids. It has a lot of potential for collaboration of all sorts, especially in business and education. It has “social” aspects, in that it only works if your friends are also using it, but is not really a “social network,” (at least not yet). Previously, wikis were the best online collaboration tool, but had their limits in terms of multi-media, user-friendliness, and lack-of real-time capability. If you can figure out how to use G-Mail, you’ll be able to use Google Wave. It’s great for sharing photos, files, and multi-media. It also has threaded conversations, similar to those used in Blackboard.

I’m looking forward to watching this program develop, as more people join and as the features become more refined.

E-mail Jenn If you’d like an invite…I have a few invites I’ll be glad to share on a first-come-first-served basis).

If you just want a quick overview before you jump right in and try it for yourself, check this short video out:

 

Or, if you really want to know ALL about Google Wave, here’s their loooooong video:

 

Also, Check out Why Google Wave Sucks, And Why You Will Use It Anyway, on TechCrunch