Collaboration Tools



:: Collaboration Tools ::

Collaborative writing tools

  • Writely
    “… a web word processor that provides simple and secure document collaboration and publishing on the web using only the browser.” Recently acquired by Google.
  • SynchroEdit
    Another web-based word processor. “… a browser-based simultaneous multiuser editor, a form of same-time, different-place groupware. It allows multiple users to edit a single web-based document at the same time, and it continuously synchronizes all changes so that users always have the same version. SynchroEdit’s main editor is fully WYSIWYG, dynamically displaying bolds, italics, underlines, strikethroughs, with various justifications, indents and listing styles as an author inputs them. SynchroEdit also supports a simple, text-only editor for more basic documents. To clarify the multiuser experience, the editor window clearly depicts every user’s changes in a specific color and also marks where each user is currently editing with a colored flag listing the user’s name.”
  • Zoho Writer
    Like Writely and SynchroEdit, an online word-processor, though in style (and buttons) much more of the look’n'feel of an online HTML editor. Imports from MS Word, OpenOffice.org, HTML, and plain text; and exports to MS Word, OpenOffice.org, and PDF. Documents can be shared (with either ‘read only’ or ‘read/write’ permissions) with named others. Like Writely, it offers basic version control via a ‘History’ button, and allows tagging of documents; though advantages over Writely are that [i] it allows one to have several documents open (as tabs) at the same time, [ii] offers a print preview facility, [iii] allows one to create and save templates, [iv] it has a spell-checker.

Shared calendars

  • AirSet
    In terms of range of functions, ease of use, and pretty much everything else, this is undoubtedly the best I’ve looked at (and got my own account on) so far. See the short Flash presentation here or the comprehensive Flash tutorial here.
  • CalendarHub
    “Create a Calendar That You Can Access from Anywhere. Keep it private, share it with others or publish it on the Web”
  • Planzo
    “Planzo is a site where you can create your very own planner and calendar. Because it’s online, Planzo lets you surf other people’s calendars as well, which we think is a very nifty feature. You can see what your friends and family have planned, share events with them, or add events from their calendars to yours all in just a few clicks. If you’re looking for new hobbies, or wonder what other people do in their spare time, surfing on the site lets you see what other people have going on in their lives. You might even find friends who have similar hobbies you had no idea about! Planzo allows people to view their online calendar in three easy formats—day, week, and month. Simply click the corresponding button above your calendar to view it in that format. Entries are added by clicking the ‘Add New Event’ button. This brings up the ‘Add Event’ window, which lets users enter new events into their calendar. Whether it’s a three-hour meeting, a weekly Monday class, or jogging once every three days, Planzo’s Add Event feature easily lets you schedule it in a simple and effective manner. Shared events from other users will appear on the main page below your calendar. Simply click ‘Add to My Calendar’ to include these events into your calendar.”

Conferencing tools

  • Vyew
    Web meeting application, with shared whiteboard, screen sharing, file sharing, photo sharing, shared Google search, shared maps, chat room, and remote file storage.