Google Docs

I was excited by the ideas of Wikis in semester one, but Google Docs would be another good way to collaborate on projects. More than a few times I've gone to open up a document on our network drive to find that someone else has it open. They might be finished and forgot to close it, but until they do, I can only access a copy. It also has the advantage that when someone has revised the document, she doesn't need to send out new copies to everyone involved.

But I like best the idea that if people are going to be working on it in different locations -- work, home, maybe on the road -- they don't need to have the "proper" software installed. They can log in to Google docs and have the editing tools right there.

I don't have a project in mind now for Google docs, but I can see it as a useful tool that we could use to work together.

IM Open to the World

How quickly things get outdated in an Web 2.0 world. I just posted an hour-and-a-half ago and that's already old information:

We have a Meebo widget on our website now and are open for business via IM. It will need some publicizing to let people know it's there, but we're game if queries start coming in.

IM on the Job

I first started instant messaging when I was working at home on a regular basis and my department head wanted to be able to keep in touch with me. He likes Trillian and introduced me to using that program. The project that let me work at home is long finished, but I often have Trillian open during the day at my desk. My department head and I still IM each other at times, and I've also used it to contact various Winnefox staff members with quick questions.

The plans are to start using IM for reference service. We're looking into using Meebo, but are still working out the logistics. It will be one more service provided by our electronic branch.