So this thing called Google Wave has landed over the last few weeks. Unlike the initial gmail invite madness a few years ago, this is a very new and different product from an email client. The love for gmail has only increased, but as Wave is a sharp 180 degree turn on communication and how most people collaborate, its had some negative press from the millisecond it got out. Ah, where would we be without life's constant complainers? Some more cheese with your 'whine' sir?
A beta product, its rough in places and so it should be! Its a little unclear, finding its feet, and definitely not for the average Joe web surfer in its current format. Cries of it being complicated, no good, and er the technically detailed 'its rubbish' are amongst the minority, but with so much attention on this new method of interaction, the whiners sadly get the press.
The fact is, its really good, and has massive, make that huge, potential to change your on-line world, but it doesn't work without its key and sole ingredient...
My experience tells me this can be bigger than big. Read; 'Really flipping big, with bells on, and a big plaque that says BIG'. It may take time (twitter took the best part of three years from roots to media darling and spam and overuse) and there will be scandals using it, issues with it, and clones of it, just as we've had with other new social developments. However, this dudes got his shorts on, has waxed his board and is ready for the wave.
A beta product, its rough in places and so it should be! Its a little unclear, finding its feet, and definitely not for the average Joe web surfer in its current format. Cries of it being complicated, no good, and er the technically detailed 'its rubbish' are amongst the minority, but with so much attention on this new method of interaction, the whiners sadly get the press.
The fact is, its really good, and has massive, make that huge, potential to change your on-line world, but it doesn't work without its key and sole ingredient...
People.
It needs maven like , social savvy, positive 'sharers' to get this going, not whiners or jealous competitors. Its still early days, but there already is more love and desire for this thing than negative. (50+ twitter wave channels already set up alone, with Facebook pages and groups a close second.) People want a better way to communicate and collaborate, and email/IM needs to evolve. This offers sophistication and transparency, greater accountability, fun, and above all else simplicity in collaboration and sharing. (Give it time you'll see what I mean)
My experience tells me this can be bigger than big. Read; 'Really flipping big, with bells on, and a big plaque that says BIG'. It may take time (twitter took the best part of three years from roots to media darling and spam and overuse) and there will be scandals using it, issues with it, and clones of it, just as we've had with other new social developments. However, this dudes got his shorts on, has waxed his board and is ready for the wave.
1 comment:
Well, I'm kinda excited, interested and ready for a let-down, all in one.
We both know most of these things fail as the mass market fails to get it, just look at greader, try and explain RSS to Joe Bloggs, I've tried, it's worthless.
You never know though.
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