Google Docs Improves Collaboration with Comment-Only Permissions

Google Docs has announced a new sharing option to give people comment-only access to documents. Previously, the only options were "Can view" or "Can edit."

With the "Can comment" option, document authors can now allow others to enter feedback on a document without being able to change the document itself.

Here's how I plan to use that feature. I have found, working with too little time and too much content change, that I need a simple "wiki" style web link where anybody can access the latest version of a speaker program, which is something I seem to find myself doing more of.

Up to this point, I have made a document, essentially a program with speakers and topics, available for viewing only, so people always will know how a program line-up has changed, without having to send out all sorts of notifications to everybody who might need to know about the changes.

But that format also does not allow for me to conveniently view, and let others view, helpful suggestions about timing, format, subjects and others who should be invited to speak. With the new feature, I can capture all of that in one place, and propagate the suggestions or comments, in a convenient way. It's very helpful.

Google Docs Improves Collaboration with Comment-Only Permissions

Robust Enterprise Social Networking

If ChangeWave Research is correct, wikis, blogs and social networking are being adopted by corporations at an explosive rate.

ChangeWave Research recently surveyed 2,081 companies and found 24 percent already using social software, while eight percent say they will start using it within a year. Wikis apparently are used by 20 percent of respondents, blogs by 18 percent, social networking by 15 percent, says Joshua Levine, ChangeWave researcher.

While current users find wikis to be most useful, future adopters think blogs (26 percent) and social networks (21 percent) will be most beneficial.

About 39 percent report their company is very or somewhat willing to use Web 2.0 social software for business purposes.

Current users say they use social networking to improve internal employee collaboration as well as to increase internal efficiency and productivity.

Users who say their firms will be adopting social networking also agree about the merits of internal communications, but also are more focused on using the tools to
improve external customer service and support, increase brand awareness and loyalty
and drive sales of products and services.

Build For Your Kids, Not Your Father

A recent survey by CIO Insight suggests chief information officers use (or think they ought to say they use) Internet video, wikis, blogs, really simple syndication, podcasts and social networking. Twitter and Second Life don't get nearly the same levels of use.