#18 Web-based Apps: Have Internet, will travel (and be productive)

The availability and use of online productivity web-based applications (think word processing and spreadsheets) has exploded over the past several years, with good reason. These powerful applications provide users with the ability to create and share documents over the Internet without the need of installed desktop applications. Some experts speculate that this emerging trend may mean the death to traditional software-based productivity tools, while others think web-based applications have their place, but not in the office. But no matter which side of the office suite platform you side with, on this both sides seem to agree; web-based apps have their place, especially for public access computer patrons.

One large benefit to web-based applications it that they eliminate the need to worry about different software versions or file types as you email documents or move from PC to PC. Another bonus is that they easily accommodate collaboration by allowing multiple users to edit the same file (with versioning) and provide users the ability to save and convert documents as multiple file types (including HTML and pdf). And, you can even use many of these tools, such as Zoho Writer and Google Docs to author and publish posts to your blog. It’s this type of integration with other web 2.0 tools that also makes web-based apps so appealing. And if your patrons still want the Microsoft Office suite, they can create a free account at Microsoft’s Office Live Workspace and get all the benefits of it being web-based (hey, Microsoft didn’t want to become obsolete next to all these web-based apps, so they stepped up to the plate and delivered their own web-based version).

Still isn’t making too much sense? Here’s a Google Docs in Plain English if you need some clarification:

For this discovery exercise, you guys are asked to take a look at a web-based word processing tool called Zoho Writer, create a simple document and then document your discoveries in your blog. If you prefer to use Google Docs, no problem — feel free to use it. If you’re up to the challenge, you might even export your document as an HTML file or publish it through Zoho or Google Docs to your blog.

With Zoho and web-based applications, the possibilities are endless.

Discovery Exercise:

1. Create a free account for yourself in Zoho Writer (you can also sign in using your Google account).
2. Explore the site and create a few test documents of two (or explore Google Docs).
3. Try out Zoho Writer’s features (or Google Docs) and create a blog post about your discoveries.

Optional: If you’re up for the challenge, try using Zoho’s “publish” options to post to your blog.

BTW: Here’s a document (viewable as a webpage) Helene Blowers mocked up in Zoho about some of the features she found beneficial during her Learning 2.0 program.