Imagine an email client which allows the user to drag and drop attachments into it, and can also contain your Facebook and Twitter applications. Now imagine that any number of chosen people can jump into a conversation together at the same time. They can even reply to a specific portion of the conversation, while others are conversing in tandem, in another area of the page. That is Google Wave; an active dynamic approach to communication and sharing.
A preview to Google Wave was initially offered to 100,000 pre-registered testers and each tester was allowed to invite up to eight additional people. For those fortunate enough to receive an invite, this page provides an overview and usage tips. For all others, don't despair, in a few months, the program will be widely available.
Open Source and Applications
Google Wave is an open source tool, which allows any developer to create a program to enhance the use. Business users are able to create their own service for office use, and bloggers will be able to embed waves, photos or other shared attachments directly onto their blogs. Applications to add Google Wave to Android phones and the iPhone will be released at the same time Google Wave is offered to the public.
Invite Your Friends
In order to use Google Wave, friends or colleagues must also have access to the tool. Early previewers are given the opportunity to invite eight people. In the search bar in the center panel, next to the "new wave" button, type "invite" and hit enter. Open the link and note the number of invites that are available. Add the email addresses of friends, Click the "Add to Invitation List" tab, and Google will send them an invitation.
To Start a Wave
After opening Google Wave, click the "New Wave' button and a column will open with an instant message conversation box. The user avatar will have a plus sign next to it. Click the plus sign to add a participant from the drop down box. Participants are found by Google from the contacts in your Gmail account. Another way to add a contact is to drag and drop them from the contact list, on the left-hand side of the page, into the wave. When a contact is clicked, a "New Wave", "Ping" or "Recent Wave" option will appear.
Type a message, and every participant has the ability to see the words. Each person can then add a "blip," or a short response. A newly added participant has the ability to see the wave in its entirety by using the "Playback" button. Extensions, photos, graphs and a host of other attachments can be embedded as desired.
Google Wave Extensions
In the "Getting Started" section, click the "Extensions" link to bring up a list of extensions, which includes a Sudoku game, maps, conference, video chat, Trippy, AccuWeather and a Yes/No/Maybe Gadget. Choose one and click the "Install" button. Confirm the choice. A toolbar icon will be added to the wave menu. Begin a new wave and invite friends to play. Click the icon on the toolbar to embed the game. When the game is over, the icon can remain on the toolbar or can be easily removed.
To remove the game, find the settings link under the navigation box and a list of installed gadgets will appear in the "Extension Settings" area. Click delete to remove it.
Businesses will be able to save time and money as their employees gather on Google Wave to collaborate on projects, and friends can play games and share thoughts and ideas, as they can communicate in real time. This information is only a small portion of what Google Wave has to offer. Additional tips and extensions will give users an even more powerful communication tool.
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