What is it?
Google Wave is a new communication tool that combines email, instant messaging and other tools into a collaborative sharing workspace. Users create spaces in which they can invite contacts to edit text, add pictures, and interact together in real-time. Individual copies of the communication are not sent to each user. Each user connects to the space, or “wave” online. Wave has different tools, called gadgets and robots, that a user can implement into a wave to extend and customize its capability.
Key Features
- Real-time editing and collaboration
- Decreases the number of copies of a document for a collaboration.
- Instant message-like communication and commenting within a wave.
Things to consider
As one of many Google’s developing applications, Wave, and support for it may change. The application, or parts of it, may be dropped or changed at any time.
The current version of Wave is a beta version.
Wave is not an effective tool for large group synchronous communication.
Uses as an Instructional Technology
Google wave can be used as a collaborative tool for meeting notes, brainstorming sessions, event planning, and photo sharing.
Resources at Wooster
If you have any questions regarding Google Wave feel free to contact your Instructional Technology liaison.
You may be interested in reading the ELI 7 things you should know about Google Wave.