This is the future of email….how do I know…because Google say it will be so. The same designers who created Google Maps are now completing design of GOOGLE WAVE which can best be described as the next generation of email. If you are familiar with how versatile Google Maps has become this is something to be looking out for.
Email has essentially been fairly dull now for over a decade, and Google proclaim Google Wave is going to be what email would look life if it was designed today. I have to admit that in itself is quite an enticing prospect. There is a lengthy video and more detail over at Google.
The new tool intends to combine e-mail, blogs, instant messaging, and wikis. The root of all the changes is that email will now be a thread ~ and that creates entirely new parameters. Just think Facebook. This is cool also…it’s Open Source!
If you wrote a message to your friends about an event (say a party) with incomplete details…all recipients can join the wave, add ideas, or questions. Everyone sees the updates via the same document.
Promised Features include:
Google Wave highlights include:
- Real-time typing option, which makes each wave a potential venue for instant messaging
- Private messaging, so certain people see only select parts of a wave
- “Playback” allows a new person on the wave’s to get current with the conversation
- Spell Checker from heaven….you have to see the video !
- Blog interaction/embedding
I’m sure learning a new email protocol might sound a bit daunting…but I for one am really excited. Let’s hope this wave breaks soon.
Tim at greenseedwebdesign.com