The Google Wave development news was unveiled at the company’s I/O Convention this May in San Francisco. It is a communication tool described as a “hybrid of e-mail, live chat and blogs,” according to iReport. Though a beta version isn’t set for release until September, Google is offering a sneak peek of the “wave.”
There are three main ideas to the Google Wave. The first main idea is the balanced operation between chatting and files. People can collaborate via chat on documents, including text, videos, maps, photos, etc. Like a wiki, the second idea behind the wave is that it is a shared effort. The invited parties can organize, edit, and even invite other participants to join. An added feature is a playback option where you can “rewind the wave” to view the chat conversation again. The third main idea of the wave is that is live, so working on a project online can happen in real time. The subsequent video, as well as an official Google tutorial can be found here. You can also sign up for a personal alert from Google to know the minute the "wave" is released.
The new communication tool is still an open-source project, which a report from Canadian outlet, CBC, is saying that over 6,000 enthusiastic volunteers helped to perfect. Due for a September 30 release, Google Wave hopes to combine several online tasks. According to the article, other features of the “wave” are a “natural language” spell-checker, a real-time translator, real-time games like sudoku and chess, and an embedding mechanism for websites which shows the most recent updates made on the “wave”. While some technology bloggers say Google Wave will ‘change everything,’ Microsoft’s chief software architect, Ray Ozzie, argues that the “wave” seems a bit complicated.
It seems as though the wave will be something which the younger generations will embrace, and it may be the way they communicate, as opposed to previous generations. It’s combining several programs which will only occupy one window on our desktops, and it may prove beneficial. I think its main uses will come from students of all grade levels working on group projects and business people. It’ll depend on the average person and whether or not they’d like to stick to their current communication technology.
In the social media aspect of public relations, it could be used for collaborative projects with another office, or even internationally. Google’s Wave would definitely revolutionize the way businesses can collaborate on a project, no matter where they are in the world. The instant messaging translator furthers the argument that anyone can work on a project anytime, anywhere, and in any language. Maintaining contacts in a public relations sense has taken another step. Social media is about connecting people, and with the translator application, that is very much possible. When reaching out to people or letting them know you are available for discussion, the “wave” just might enhance that capacity where a language barrier once presented itself.
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