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Google Wave, a new type of communication tool, was unveiled at the Google IO conference yesterday. A combination of email, instant messaging, and many other collaborative features, this new application will be available to the public later this year. Additionally, Google plans to make the application Open Source. PCWorld asks Is Google Wave a Twitter Killer? and TechCrunch provides a detailed review of the new tool with plenty of screenshots. Below is the keynote from yesterday’s conference in which the application in fully demonstrated.
I’ve created a faculty office in Google Lively where my students can drop-in and chat in a virtual space. Up to 20 people can join and interact in a room at once, although 100 can enter rooms with view-only access. If you’ve installed Lively, stop by and say hello. If you’re just getting started you may find these resources helpful:
On Tuesday, Google launched a virtual world called Lively which allows players to embed their avatars and even “rooms” from within the world into their websites and blogs. Similar to Second Life, users must download and install software in order to enter, but then can access the world from social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace. A search of Lively’s rooms reveals that several libraries may already experimenting with the service including the Alliance Virtual Library, ASU’s Noble Library, and Rutgers University Law Library.
Lifehacker creates a list of the top five best instant messaging tools based on a user poll of over 550 comments. Here are the 5 most voted-for applications:
David Lee King and the folks at the The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library have integrated an interesting feature into their online catalog. They have embedded a Meebo chat widget into the unsuccessful keyword search results page, so that when patrons are having difficulty locating resources, they can contact a librarian via instant messaging, or the telephone number they display beside the widget. What a great way to offer an Ask a Librarian service, right when patrons most need it!
I will be speaking today at the ACRL/NY Symposium about Social Software in Academic Libraries. My presentation is here on Slideshare.net. Thank you to all of the college and university libraries who gave me great quotes about their social software initiatives to use in my prez. Also, here is a quick guide to all of the websites I refer to in my presentation:
1. Limit your time.
2. Have a purpose.
3. Get to the point.
4. Be concise.
5. Know when to use IM.
6. Stay with one chat service.
7. Limit your friends.
8. Block unproductive friends.
9. Respect others’ time.
10. Be friendly.
11. Say thank you or congrats.
12. Bounce ideas off people.
13. Ask for quick favors.
14. Switch to email.
15. Use group chat.
16. End it quickly.
17. Think action.
IM aggregator/client Meebo has announced the launch of its own developer platform, allowing third-parties to create applications for its service much the same as Facebook Applications. One important distinction however, is that Meebo reserves the right to approve all new programs before they are added. So far there are four Meebo partners creating apps:
In this month’s Tech Tips for Every Librarian column in Computers in Libraries, Michael Stephens and Rachel Singer Gordon explain the process of getting up and running with the IM aggregator meebo, embedding a meebo me widget into a website or blog, and configuring a meebo Rooms chat space. Check out their helpful overview article, Embedding a Librarian in Your Web Site Using meebo.
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