Communication, but not as we know it?

Google intends to launch a new groundbreaking communication application that is a mashup combining email, instant messaging and document maps plus image and video sharing all neatly integrated into the one interface. Google wave will offer conference style calls between multiple people. Furthermore the application requires no special software download or plug-in to operate and can be easily used from any computer or 3g phone.

I can see a number of exciting applications for this technology from the perspective of facilitating collaborative initiatives such as the NSW Reference Information Services Group. It may also prove to be a powerful tool for providing reference services. Who knows virtual book groups may be just around the corner.

Google Wave was developed by the Google team in Australia, good old Aussie ingenuity. For further details please refer to the Sydney Morning Herald article.