Friday, 27 November 2009

Melbourne Wave Meetup #1 - repost

Reposting from the meetup wave: Melbourne Wave Meetup #1
... until Pete Williams replicates post on http://deloittedigital.blogspot.com/


Ross Hill:

Melbourne Wave Meetup #1


Here's the Wave we can use to live-stream the first event. Event details at http://www.rosshill.com.au/article/melbourne-wave/

Nov 26
Damian Keeghan (and imfabs@googlewave.com, Jason Smale, …):

LIVE STREAM: Add notes here - feel free to edit inline:


Deloitte is the most active domain on Google Wave at the Moment

Word of the Day: Communicationess

Wave came about because of the messiness of email during conversations

Email mimics Snail Mail


Declaration of Independence using Google Wave:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/11/the-declaration-of-independence-recreated-in-google-wave/


(Another example: Pulp Fiction using Wave: http://laughingsquid.com/pulp-fiction-google-wave-demo/)


People are talking about Wave as a Social Networking tool... - Dr Wave says they don't think Wave is, its more about Document Collaboration


Watching a practical example of Google Wave - Dr Wave vs Sam Bell (now featuring Jase Smale)

Operational Transforms

Figure out changes that are made, which are pushed to the server, then all of the connected clients.

No locking out of users


Can't collaborate on Meeting notes using Word


Gadgets

Why should we just limit sync to text? Gadgets can be in realtime anyway


Looking at the YesNoMaybe (original) gadget. Looks like this will definitely be useful for large groups


Maps demo not quite working... Greg reminds us that its a "Preview"


Now looking at the My Map gadget:

Information visualiser

Mind maps for all


Greg can't draw (he's a Product Manager)


Robots:

Participants that can be added to waves (just like people). It can see everything that happens in real time.


e.g.

Rosie - Realtime Translator (WIP)

Automatic transformation of links

There's currently a company that has made their own where you can type the title of a book and it tells you the stock levels in realtime

Automation of old manual processes


Protocol:

Wave servers can talk to other wave servers

Google will be releasing the majority of the source code to the public. (think of the wave protocol like SMTP)


Questions:


Q. How do you add search for robots/gadgets

A: currently its quite hard, still working on it. Will be in the navigation to search for extensions: currently best way is a website... unsure of link? (look for the Dr Wave wave - Welcome to Google Wave: there are some video conferencing apps, sudoku, trip planning, weather)

(Pete asks if it's on Bing)


Q. How do you open multip windows:

A. Click on a wave link using CMD/CTRL


Q. What do you see the future of wave to be?

A. currently see SMTP as being extremely insecure.. one of the reasons that people are interested in Wave Protocol is that it's secure (all messages are signed by the server)


Q. Tell us more about Wave Etiquette (thanks)

A. This is really a long term concept. Allow people to establish the etiquette of the wave by adding a specific "participant" to the wave:

- e.g. adding a tag to indicate that you don't mind if people edit your wave


Q. What are the highlights of Wave Security

A. [Wave security expert - Damian Miller] - 1. people have different opinions on security: wave allows you to setup your wave server to be internal only (i.e. your own physical server), as well as being in the cloud

This exists beyond wave (e.g. Google Docs)

There could be rules that determine which documents remain outside of the cloud


Q. Does everything need to be on the cloud?

A. No, a blended solution can work.


Q. Considerations about using the word Wave in their own apps (*cough* iphone *cough*)

A. There isnt a trademark on the Wave name, you can also use the Wave logo (just need to ensure you follow the lawyer speak)... using a name like: "Official Google Wave iPhone Gadget" would get you into trouble... need to ensure that you use it so that people know its a 3rd Party


Q. IM/Email wrapped in one - collection of Waves together + attachments = Sharepoint?... Wavepoint?

A. It will be available on Google Apps as well... and this is where the Wave team is really trying to make a big impact. This could be a more efficient way to manage workflow? One of Greg's main responsibilities is looking into the Enterprise


Q. Will wave get Table Editing in the future?

A. Currently they are working on it, but don't want to lock down cells for users, so they are trying to figure out a way to get it working while allow people to edit cells at the same time.

Nov 26
Damian Keeghan (and Jason Smale, Dean Lombard, …):


Examples of how people are using Wave


Ross Hill/Pete Williams - Deloitte Innovation

Showing the Innovation Academy

Combination of eLearning with Idea Capture (Wordpress and User Voice)

* Pete has taken over the mic *


Ross showing Google Wave.. wave? of the meeting minutes from Today's Innovation Council. They are using the voting application for the council members to indicate if they want an idea to proceed through the workflow


Ross has to administer all of the minutes, so now there is actual collaborative notetaking:

- Someone takes note

- Ross formats/adds links

- at the end of the meeting, there isn't any additional work that needs to be completed, the document is ready


Tim (Unique Micro Design)

make the custom keyboards from Hungry Jacks

big in the RFID space

these chips now have enough space in them to put in a url

Amazon in 5 years will have RFID in each package

how can wave help?

location tracking

members of the conversation could be the tracking points of each destination on the parcel's journey

Little more advanced than Ross Hill's voting buttons :P


Peter Peach

There is a new Robot that automatically emails people when a wave has been updated


Jase Smale:

Q. How can we communicate between something like Exchange/Wave

A. Wave team spent 2 man years on an interface between email/wave... difficult at the moment, however in the future could be added


Doug Reith

Talking about a referencing robot which can automatically added references inline with your wave

IDEA: TiVo talking to you about what show is starting/has started/finished downloading


Giddeon

Talking about how they could create a wave straight after events talking about the event and getting feedback


Steve Hopkins

Trampoline event - everyone was in a huge wave talking about each of the topics of conversation and all of the speakers

- How could we use Wave at #futuresummit?

-- not sure yet, but realtime collaborative notetaking and people who are offsite


Garden Variety Accountant (Ari)

Been working on an online accounting tool - communication between the Accountant and the Client, allow people to upload accounting information to the accountant if they dont have their own accounting software *skies the limit*


Education

Informal communication

Professor is using Wave and he is finding that his students have more communication with him, and with other students. People are more willing to communicate informally


Russell

Engagement between 1-1 and 1-many -

much closer now to how people actually communicate

You can actually see "body language" of the communication and it allows people to see how you are actually feeling as you are writing (you can actually put the


Peter Spence

Sports forum - talking about greater commnuications


Department of Justice (Darren Whitelaw)

How can we use this in Crisis Management - unfotunately it can be difficult thanks to the "brown-cardigans" - Pete is working on the Bushfires stuff: He wants to see more information out there where you can search your location and figure out whats happening/what is likely to happen

Wave protocol can be used locally as well as connecting periodically with the cloud


Michael Specht

Recruitment conference - great discussion in realtime - even from offsite wavees

But recruiters were trying to mine the data and get all your information

- Soon there will be functionality where only people who you trust can add you to a wave

- if you don't trust them, they will go to your "Requests Folder"


Tim

Question around +'s being used .. just like email

Maybe we shouldnt have wave addresses that look like emails

Would like to get away from need to know peoples addresses by using search functionality


IT Development Company Guy

Discuss Projects - how can they get clients to enter into the discussion? Can they have their own managed Google Apps domain? - answer = yes, its current, however not very prominant at the moment... more in the future.


Pete Williams

DRINK all of our stuff

This meeting was only organised through Twitter, Wave, online channels

We love you Google


Free Wave stickers for all (and Greg is going to sign them)


Nov 26
George Hall:

Some of us are looking at how Wave can be used in emergencies, too..information collaboration would be handy for example in a bushfire situation, between the nerve center and the field..

Nov 26
George Hall:

Imagine how Wave could have helped back in February...a CFA unit snaps a picture with a laptop and Waves a situation report in realt-time back to CFA HQ, where it can be assessed and a decision passed back also in real-time...

Nov 19
Pete Williams:

i have replicated post on http://deloittedigital.blogspot.com/

Nov 19
collaboguy@googlewave.com:

Fantastic - interesting to see this in action.

Nov 21
Harriet:

Looking forward to it, hoping you will all accomodate a wave incompetent!

Nov 22
Kirk:

I signed for this wave but forgot what this is for? could someone refresh my memory as to the purpose of this wave ?

Nov 22
collaboguy@googlewave.com:

Essentially it centres on a group of Wave enthusiasts based in Melbourne Australia, and a plan to meet regarding same later this coming week - to meet "Doctor Wave" and share ideas...

Nov 22
Kirk:

thanks I am in !

Nov 25
Andy Gelme (and Markus Giesen):

Just to get everyone started ... here is a "Hello World" Wave Gadget :)


It's incredibly easy to do. All you need ... is to put a small amount of XML (yuk !) on a publicly accessible web server, click on the jigsaw puzzle piece (on the toolbar above) and enter the URL of that XML.


So, what does the XML look like ...







Hello World !






After that, you can add serious functionality by writing JavaScript to manipulate the DOM and read up on the API.


The URL for the Wave Gadget below is http://geekscape.org/lonely_planet/hello_world.xml


And, now for the Wave Gadget ... enjoy ...



If you've got any questions ... or want to bounce around some ideas for Wave Gadget development ... let's hear them !

Nov 24
Markus Giesen:

... ha. Exciting! (no one saw that..)

Nov 26
Alvaro:

can't see the gadget...I am using safari on mac

Nov 26
Dai:

if you can read Hello World, you're seeing it.

Nov 26
Alvaro:

oh i thought it was suppose to do something, still new to wave..


Nov 26
Abhilash Kuduvalli:

It'll be great when Google Docs becomes supported. For now, you can still add the iFrame gadget as a workaround

Nov 24
John Hardy:

nice work Andy

Nov 26
Angus Florance:

Won't be able to make it in now guys - been double booked - but looking forward to following it from here.

Nov 26
Ross Hill:

Looking forward to seeing you all from 4pm guys!

Nov 26
Josh Andres:

oops just got back to the computer. 4.00 ill be late, mmm might wait for some podcast, and fellow comments perhaps

Nov 26
Pete Williams:

its ok to be a bit late


Nov 26
Markus Giesen:

On our way now.. See you later... Rubber boots anyone?

Nov 26
Rene Cunningham:

how many people are attending in person?

Nov 26
Rene Cunningham:

vs how many people are attending online

Nov 26
Josh Andres:

One idea for Gw, will be to have sound. like you record and post in msn

Nov 26
Damian Keeghan:

I would love to get an IM client based on the Wave client. Would make IM's a heap quicker... and lots of unfinished sentences

Nov 26
yogachicky@googlewave.com:

Just peeking in from afar, can't attend *sigh*

Nov 26
Yu Tang Lee:

How long before Waves aren't just a messy cluttered of noise due to lack of posting discipline? Unfinished sentences, people replying in the wrong places, etc

Nov 26
Harriet:

isn't that what makes things interesting? - it's a reorganisation of linear information into a more organic format - conversations don't respond in the right places and are full of unfinished sentences


Nov 26
Anthony:

riding the wave - feeling the flow

Nov 26
victoria.strike@googlewave.com:

Yep, keeping an eye on deliberations here too.

Nov 26
melbwave@googlewave.com:

Follow on Twitter as well (if you wish) - hashtag #MelbWave

Nov 26
George Hall:

or blog on Twitter?

Nov 26
melbwave@googlewave.com:

Trying to Wave and Tweet at the same time - challenge (oh, and listen to speaker as well ;)

Nov 26
George Hall:

Multi-tasking....

Nov 26
yogachicky@googlewave.com:

Tricky business! ;)

Nov 26
Justin Freitag:

vote next meeting _after_ 6pm

Nov 26
Harriet:

or even after 5!


Nov 26
Michael Specht:

Agree, although a good excuse to stop working :-)


Nov 26
jed.bowtell@googlewave.com:

Good idea

Nov 26
Pete Williams:

we couldn't get Dr Wave to stay later as he had a flight to catch back to Sydney

Nov 26
jed.bowtell@googlewave.com:

The non-native scrollbar in Wave is annoying. Would love to know the reasoning behind it.

Nov 26
Justin Freitag:

on a netbook with a trackpad it's more than annoying lol

12:52 am
Taufiq Khan:

agreed. the only way i can stand using it is with the up/down keys!

6:46 am
Laurent:

+1

7:46 am
Piotr Zurek:

There's an easy way to get native scrollbars in Wave and it makes it faster:

http://linuxart.com/log/archives/2009/11/25/google-wave-native-scrollbars/

It works perfectly for me.

9:39 am
me:

perhaps u guys should try using the to advance to next unread :)

9:43 am
Dai:

we found out yesterday during the live commentary by Damian and Jason, when a blip is being edited, and someone else types another blip somewhere else -- like way below -- the spacebar is stuck and doesn't do anything. The easiest way to navigate was PageUp and PageDown keys by far.

Nov 26
Rene Cunningham:

perhaps it allows wave to know what you're looking at where native scroll bar wouldnt

Nov 26
jed.bowtell@googlewave.com:

Could be, but metrics/research shouldn't get in the way of usability

Nov 26
Rene Cunningham:

agree, but i was thinking more of context rather than metrics

Nov 26
jed.bowtell@googlewave.com:

I think you can work out scroll position with a standard scrollbar


Nov 26
Rene Cunningham:

ah ok

Nov 26
Anthony:

the page up & page down buttons work well with wave

Nov 26
Dai:

that's good to know, had never tried before, you're right. any of you guys noticed that 'hopping' from unread blip to blip with space bar is kinda buggy? or is it just me?


Nov 26
jed.bowtell@googlewave.com:

A standard scrollbar hints at the length of a window, which can be handy

Nov 26
jed.bowtell@googlewave.com:

I think Wave will stimulate sales of 22+ inch monitors

Nov 26
Dai:

or even put the portrait monitors back in fashion :D

Nov 26
Andrew Litvak:

There's a price premium on LCDs that rotate, but I find it's worth it


Nov 26
George Hall:

Agreed. Standard scroll much easier and intuitive.

Nov 26
Anthony:

should we add http://cleantxt.appspot.com/ to clean up the empty blips on the wave?

Nov 26
Harriet:

i missed the mind map app - can anyone help....


Nov 26
melbwave@googlewave.com:

Short video piece from #MelbWave meeting ... http://qik.com/video/3689293

Nov 26
melbwave@googlewave.com:

Longer piece on Deloitte using Google Wave http://qik.com/video/3689487

Nov 26
Angus Florance:

Thank you ... Got the Wave fan boys and girls here watching in :)

Nov 26
jed.bowtell@googlewave.com:

Advantages of Wave over something like Zoho?

Nov 26
Harriet (and stegraham@deloitte.com.au):

looking at educational uses - so far most interest in shared maps -i.e. maths teachers asking students to tour Rome and set each other problems on scale. Language teachers getting sts learning new languages to practice at distance and take each other on real time tours.

Nov 26
Dai:

Reading the live transcript was interesting, however, coming up with how people could use wave is I think beside the point, as with any new technology, people are creative and will adopt the technology to meet their own needs. But reading it live I think made clear the need of better threading/timelining of waves. Right below the transcript, George reacted "live" and typed in some comments that were interesting. However, looking at it now, one can't be sure WHEN he made those comments -- or rather at which point in the live debate. If we can read the live transcript, we should be able to comment "live" as well,

9:22 am
Damian Keeghan:

Hi Dai, you actually can edit a reply directly inline... just the action of doing it is a little unintuative at first. All you need to do is select some text in "non-editing" mode in someone's wave,

9:25 am
Dai:

Yes thanks Damian, discovered this feature earlier while waving for fun with a friend. On top of that, the good thing is that the little annotation mark is clickable and can be minimized, so as not to clutter the main text body. Color coding that annotation mark could be an idea though :)

9:25 am
Damian Keeghan:

Oh yeah, thats awesome :D I was thinking that it could get a little confusing.

9:29 am
Dai:

But I think if I minimize this reply thread, only myself sees it as minimized, it's expanded by default for everyone else.

and you are given a little popup that allows you to reply inline. This would be perfect for inline commenting

but then if too many people type in their reactions, it becomes messy real fast. When double clicking on a spot in a blip, there could be a sub menu 'react' or 'comment', which would be put at the end of the thread, but people would be able to see WHEN that comment was made, because the comment function would link the timeline to the post.


And about using wave in emergency cases, I think it's a good idea. "24" next season is coming soon, how cool would it be if CTU used Wave? :D

Nov 26
Damian Keeghan:

I absolutely agree with you, that would be fantastic. Allowing people to comment inline (while not actually being in the same body of text) has some fantastic possibilities

9:35 am
me:

hi Damian, didn't realise u were there :)

Nov 26
Kate Kendall:

Hope you're having a good session. Following a little remotely. :-)

Nov 26
Damian Keeghan (and Dai):

Jason Smale and myself had a chat with Damien Miller (Google Security Team Mascot, and fellow Melbournian) afterwards around Wave and Security, specifically around concerns at keeping information on the cloud.


With Wave, Google are focusing on Anti-Phising which they can do easily with the secure wave protocol, and anti-spam which is a little more difficult. Will be interesting to see where it goes.