Since the internet (and it's associated technologies) are more powerful than ever, there has been a shift away from desktop applications (think Microsoft Office) toward online alternatives (think Google Docs). These online applications combine the best features of the desktop version (lots of functionality, and speed) with the best features of the online version (interactivity, easy of sharing, and simultaneous editing ability, to name a few).
Google Docs does provide a Rich User Experience: a free, fast, lightweight, easy to share, office suite that requires no download, no large install, and, technically, not even a desktop computer. It's capable of doing pretty much anything a traditional office suite can do (like Microsoft Office or Open Office): create and edit word documents, slideshows, spreadsheets, pictures (as in a Paint Program), tables and forms. Just about the only thing it doesn't provide is database management software (knowing Google, they probably see this as a serious issue that needs to be resolved).
After you create these many and varies pieces of work (or play) you can combine them, and share them, and let other people edit them, easily from the comfort of their own office (or smart phone). And it doesn't matter what device you are using, they're all compatible with Google docs. And, as if you needed Google Docs to be able to do anything else, it still allows you to download a copy of the document in pretty much any format you like (except for some proprietary Microsoft formats).
Is this User Experience not Rich?
Hey Jack,
ReplyDeleteI think User Experience is more than Rich and is becoming even richer, soon i believe the office suites won't exists later and everything will just be web based applications.
Google Docs does provide a rich user interface by providing many tools and functions that combines the capabilities of installed desktop softwares and also online document editing softwares. In other words, you get the best of both worlds. And I didn't know that we could download a copy of the document we're editing in a bunch of formats provided. This makes the application even more versatile.
ReplyDeleteI had never used Google Docs before this class. Always used Dropbox for any type of collaborative work. It definitely exhibits the core features of rich user experience.
ReplyDeleteBlogspot is not very Chrome friendly that's for sure...
Hi, I agree some parts that you provide. I prefer to use Dropbox because it is easier to use. I feel it is slow when I use googledoc to create documents online. Moreover, the format will be changed if I upload documents to googledoc. I think that googledoc should be developed more convenient.
ReplyDelete