Writing

Writing tools are those that are primarily text based. The tools presented here are highly collaborative due to their real time funtionality.


 * EtherPad** was a web service that allowed real-time document collaboration for multiple users. Participants could simultaneously edit and see all changes, each user's text was displayed in a different color. Google purchased Etherpad to integrate with it's new product Google Wave, which was later discontinued and the project handed over - it continues as **Apache Wave**. Google then released the Etherpad code as open source and numerous clones of the original have emerged - eg **iEtherPad**, **TypeWith.me**, **TitanPad** and **PrimaryPad**.


 * The EtherPad Foundation** is a no-profit organisation that maintains development of the EtherPad project.

We will set up and collaborate in an iEtherpad based site to examine the ease of use of this product. All documents created with Etherpad sites are public and can not be set to private. media type="custom" key="9663582" align="center"

Google however did not completely abandon their EtherPad acquisition as Google Docs now allows multiple simultaneous users. It is not quite as real-time as EtherPad, refreshing about every 10 seconds.

Google certainly has a very large user base an equally high profile when it comes to online document creation and sharing. We will examine the collaborative nature of a **shared Google Doc** and a **shared Google Spreadsheet**that have been set to private so only people in this group can access them.


 * Google Docs for Educators** - Google Docs as explained by Google


 * 34 Interesting Ways to Use Google docs in the Classroom** - a slideshow with lots of interesting ideas

Visit the **Google Docs Blog** to keep up with the news about developments in the world of Google


 * Other Collaborative writing Sites**


 * Crocodoc** - annotate over a shared uploaded file then download the file with the annotations in place


 * Join me** - a screen sharing tool that allows users to share and control the same screen


 * MixedInk (for educators)** - not real-time but a different collaborative process (more like a mash-up) to engage students.


 * Springnote** - Group Notebooks allows users to collaborate, though quite wiki-like in its functionality.