Thing 9 - Google docs, and iGoogle for fun

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Google docs allows you to create documents, and collaborate with others to produce the final version.
Why? The doc (document) is saved in a shared space where whoever you invite can work on it - no need to have access to intranets etc.

You can watch this CommonCraft video on YouTube for a demo of how to use it.

Your task: create a google doc and describe your last holiday, or a book or movie that you really enjoyed, or your favourite dish, or your pet, or … whatever you’d like to talk about. Share it with someone else and ask them to add their take on the topic.

HOW TO:

  1. Log into gmail
  2. Click on documents (third option from left at top)
  3. New > document (or try a spreadsheet if you want to get fancy)
  4. Describe whatever it is you want to talk about. Play with formatting if you’d like.
  5. Select share
  6. To find someone to share with, check the progress wiki for gmail addresses (address must be gmail) or ask someone what theirs is, or use sue10749@gmail.com .
  7. Enter the email address of your collaborator.
  8. In the message, ask the collaborator to add their bit and to email your gmail address when it’s complete.
  9. Select “send”
  10. Click on “Docs home” or close the window.
  11. If you want to do more … you can publish your doc so it becomes a web page and anyone can view it. This is my published doc. You can also add it to your blog.

What you have to do before you can tick off Thing 9:

  • Create a doc and share it with someone
  • Read what they add to it
  • Write about Google docs in your blog post. Do you like it? Would you use it? When would  you not use it?

You may also be interested in … reading about Cloud Computing. This is described by Wikipedia as “Internet-based (”cloud“) development and use of computer technology (”computing“)”. Applications and files are stored not on your own server, but on a server at a remote location. It was discussed a couple of months ago on Radio National’s Background Briefing. And even Microsoft is looking at it.

Optional fun bit … create your own iGoogle page - put the ‘you’ into Google. Read what Wikipedia has to say about it and watch this video.

Then go to http://www.google.com/ig, sign in and create your page. You can even add Murdoch Library’s Google Gadget!

Think about it … would you create your own iGoogle page? If yes, what would you put on it and what would you not put on it?

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