Google Wave: The Next [Electronic] Generation?

You have to wonder if we will ever stop outdoing ourselves.

In Google's case, I can safely say, not any time soon. It's latest? Google Wave--promoted as the new online tool for real time communication and collaboration (I'm still trying to figure out what that means)--is the recent buzz among digital aficionado. Google describes it as "a wave [that] can be both a conversation and a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more."

Normally, I wouldn't mind having an electronic best friend that has an automated, boisterous spell-check/grammar (God knows I need it), a best friend that acts as a translator in 40 languages (since I only speak three) or one that can also inform me about what is current in the world. It's like having your own electronic super hero that saves the world one communication barrier at a time, right? It does sound very appealing. However, I can't help but wonder: What problems does Google Wave pose?

In their defense, the creators, themselves, raise a fair question: Why do we have to live with divides between different types of communication — email versus chat, or conversations versus documents? In an effort to improve communication, Google Wave introduces what may be a revolutionary idea for businesses, companies, organizations, etc. Hm... this sounds oddly familiar to what the Nextel phone did for businesses.  Perhaps Google Wave should come with a disclaimer: If not used in moderation, this product may become a nuisance. 

On the other hand, it promises to ease communication for contacts across the world. However, if none of these (work or distance) apply to you, it may prove to be either (1) too complex or (2) more of a hassle than your regular email and IM. Trust me. I want to like the gadget, but am simultaneously skeptical. 

That said, if this sounds like your kind of toy, sign up to be one of the 100,000 that gets invited by Google to play with Google Wave before it's released to the public.

Speaking of Google Books...

As mentioned in our last posting, we all may very well start reading Google Books. -- Okay, okay, so those weren't my exact words. However, we very soon might be!

On Friday, September 4th, the (already extended) Opt-Out Deadline for the Google Book Settlement will come to a close. So if you're an author, illustrator, a publisher, or someone who owns a U.S. copyright as of January 5, 2009, you're probably not reading this... But, if you are an author, illustrator, a publisher, or someone who owns a U.S. copyright, then you are probably included in the gigantic Google settlement.

If I am just catching you up with the not-so-latest, then here's a conveniently short description:

This lawsuit involves the Google Library Project. In 2004, Google announced that it had entered into agreements with several libraries to digitize books, including books protected by U.S. copyright law, in those libraries’ collections.

Later this year, a judge will decide on the settlement. But, the-soon-to-be-monopoly, Google, has some mighty big opponents on the other side of the ring. Three of the biggest: Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Yahoo!. Bloomberg.com reports that "A coalition including Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo! Inc. argue that Google is trying to control the access and distribution of the world’s largest database of books."

These big corporations aren't the only ones raising strong points. Germany-yes, the country-protests too! Germany's main argument, however, focuses on the effects on the E.U., agreeing that The Google Book Project “runs afoul of the applicable German national laws, as well as European public initiatives to create non-commercial worldwide digital libraries. ”

The overall consensus seems to be: STOP trying to monopolize, Google!

Personally, I'm still not sure where I stand on the whole debate. I have a feeling this blog entry will be a multiple-parter. What I do know, however, is that it is important to me that my personal information remain secure and private. Can you handle that, Google?

My next question: Why is the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department investigating this settlement?

For more information about the settlement, click here.