Misunderstanding Wave

I'm still waiting for my Google Wave invitation, but I have been reading blogs and posts from people who have gotten theirs (#@!*#$!!), and I'd say most of them have failed to see what the value is here.

Wave is NOT going to replace email. Some people have fretted about that and even become quite upset. That's not what it's for.

Wave isn't going to replace blogging either - although it could become important as a discussion tool. It could replace comments in some situations.

Wave is a collaboration tool. For example, I might start a Wave for our community computer club. I'd post announcements, pictures, and members could comment and add material. Any club could use Wave in the same way - it's an electronic club meeting.

Obviously small groups working on projects could use a Wave to swap ideas, even to actually work on the task. By the way, LifeHacker groks Wave and that link has many good examples of how groups are using Wave right now. Reading those should give you ideas about the real value of Wave.

I think that certain subjects here could benefit from a Wave approach, too. I'm looking forward to experimenting - whenever I finally can!

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Thu Oct 15 18:30:23 2009: Subject:   MikeHostetler
http://squarepegsystems.com

I just got Google Voice yesterday, so none of this new-fangled stuff for me yet.

But I want a Google Wave invite. Of course, if you don't have anyone to collaborate with, it will do you know good. Not just email, but actually work together for a common goal.

Anyway, good thoughts as always, Tony. And if you have a Google Wave invite handy . . . .



Thu Oct 15 18:33:01 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


I haven't been blessed yet either :-)

Though I have had Voice for a while and love it.

You are correct - even if we ARE invited now, we won't be able to do much.




Fri Oct 16 19:34:53 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


This guy also understands what so many others have not: http://danieltenner.com/posts/0012-google-wave.html



Fri Oct 30 17:08:25 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


I just got an invite this morning (thanks Donal!).

I have no invites to give out, sorry, but have already used this to useful purpose.

If you DO have Wave, I'm pcunix@googlewave.com





Fri Oct 30 17:51:29 2009: Subject:   BrettLegree
http://6weeks.ca

I'll add you on over the weekend.

You're right, Tenner does get it. I'd read the official blurb and watched the video Google had, then pretty much ignored the mass of blogs that didn't seem to get it.

Once I received my invite and logged in, I thought, "okay, what kind of project can I use this on and who can I work with on it?"

(And then I thought, "too bad they won't let me use this at work".)



Fri Oct 30 18:12:01 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


I already see you in my Wave contacts and added you to at least one or two Waves - so you should see those in your inbox.



Fri Oct 30 18:16:32 2009: Subject:   MikeHostetler
http://mike.hostetlerhome.com

So when one of you get a round of invites on the Wave, you know where you can send one of them, right? :)

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Fri Oct 30 18:19:15 2009: Subject:   BrettLegree
http://6weeks.ca

@Tony,

Perfect - I'll have a look.

@Mike,

I think I have some invites, I'll verify and send you one if I do.



Fri Oct 30 18:19:34 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Yes, I do :-)





Fri Oct 30 19:49:24 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Rethinking my post after spending a few hours with Wave:

For SOME email conversations, Wave is much better. The problem (for mail) is that you don't necessarily know ahead of time that a conversation would be better in Wave. So... once this is ubiquitous and we all understand that, we might just start using Wave instead of email at the beginning of a conversation.



Fri Oct 30 19:57:41 2009: Subject:   BrettLegree
http://6weeks.ca

Just to build on your last thought, Tony - perhaps Google could consider a way to "convert" a Gmail conversation into a Wave, if one of the parties decided that it would work better that way.

That way, once you'd done the back-and-forth thing three or four times, just click the "Convert to Wave" button and carry on.

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