Comments on: Debating the power of Google's Wave

CNET's Rafe Needleman and Stephen Shankland dissect and discuss the search giant's new experimental communication platform.

[Willanator]

They must come up with something that is instantaneous,and right now. Man we should be way past this stage.

[billbledsoe]

So here's the thing. Really, Wave is just another iteration on what Andressen and Barksdale called Netscape Netcaster, in real time. It is a kluged collection of apps in an overgrown browser experience. I don't see anything truly innovative or even useful in it right now. I see some cool factor (wow, I can watch rafe type!!!) but... it is just not that useful. Tell me when Wave can help me solve a problem I have... then I guess I might be interested in looking at it. Right now though I'm not seeing the average user... using this ever.

[cvaldes1831]

The biggest problem with this is that faster communications does not necessarily lead to greater knowledge. It could just as well be a faster delivery mechanism for bad data. It takes effort (time and careful analysis) to separate good information from bad information.

Information, knowledge, and wisdom are three very different things. The Internet is full of information, has less knowledge, and precious little wisdom whatsoever. Technology journalists to this day have never seemed willing to admit this.

Sometimes you need to shut off your phone and e-mail and just analyze the data to figure out what's right. Careful expository writing gives you time for analysis and reflection which stream-of-consciousness real-time conversation does not nurture. Even a concept like brainstorming has been proven to work more effectively in individual situations rather than group situations.

It's simply hard to think when you are giving your undivided attention to someone else.

Extremely good write up on this new "Google Wave"; it sounds as if it is going to be much more than the average user will ever need. However for those that use: I.M., Chat, Email, etc. this may uncomplicate their world by merging several pieces of software into one. This development just enhances my perception of the inovative qualities of Google as a company. It also says a lot about the kind of people Google employs. I hope that Google has a work environment that is relaxed with minimum stress; I think this drives ennovativeness as opposed to coming to work in a pressure cooker each day. I feel like Google is a good company I really like the Google web site it is clean and easy to navigate, but at the same time has plenty of Googles innovations to add to iGoogle for a personal page just like one likes it. Keep it going Google.

Travis Lambert - Andalusia, Alabama

[lycanr1]

Sounds like an opportunity to write an email client that offers a view of the email dialog in the same format as Google Wave. All the required elements are existent.

Write Microsoft Outlook / Apple Mail to thread and combine threaded emails into a conversation - included attachments in conversation threads. Tie into instant messenger system if you want live collaborative message editing.

[svk1069]

Google Wave already exists. It's called Zenbe Shareflow: http://blog.zenbe.com/2009/06/02/beyond-email/

[anders83]

um, judging by the screenshot over here it looks kinda buggy so far: http://variableghz.com/2009/10/google-wave-review/

[Sebastiaqn]

Isn't it more turning into Forum 2.0?

It has the ability to become an instant messaging tool, can easily create network structures of the likes of twitter within itself and, if interconnected with Chrome, Mail and Documents become the only platform you need to use on a machine that is connected to the Internet. I think that is the definition of the Cloud.