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Pre-requisite reading: Web 1.0, Web 2.0, Web 3.0 and Web 4.0 explained ; Let’s transform the world in 365 days ; http://wave.google.com

Email embeds Web 1.0
Email was created 40 years ago and provides specific means for people to communicate. It mimics the conventional postal service. You write a letter, give it to the delivery man and he delivers it. The delivery of email relies on email servers which take an email and deliver it to other email servers and is ultimately delivered to the recipient. It is not instantaneous communication. Email only facilitates correspondence (or letters) sent to and from other people. The workflow of email defines how people work and it is inherently limited. Email embeds Web 1.0 because it ties our most common method of communication to a discussion in writing which is exchanged over a few hours or days.

Other technologies have emerged to facilitate related types of communication. This includes wiki, forums, instant messages, concurrent version control, video conferencing, voice over IP. All separately facilitate a way people may communicate with each other.

What is Google Wave?
Wave is Google’s attempt at how we should communicate given technology today. It provides a new means and a new workflow to communicate. Google Wave changes the workflow of communication fundamentally with significant productivity gains for each individual, teams and corporates. It is available through the browser - no desktop software necessary. Each individual is (or can be) permanently connected to a server allowing them to communicate using a variety of different means.

At its simplest, Google Wave facilitates an enhanced email, instant messaging and online document editing by teams. A more advanced description would also include forums, online document editing in real time, collective file sharing, blogging, version control. Most of these technologies are not used by the mainstream population. As a result, it is difficult for individuals to understand why bringing them them all together in a single “wave” is significant. It has API’s that social networks and other online services can use - wave’s can be embedded in your web site, integrate with twitter and directly link to other media or information streams.  Google Wave a single platform that allow individuals to access mutliple tools to communicate with others quickly on simple tasks, or in large groups on complex tasks. It will also translate between 40 languages in real time.

A picture is worth a thousand words. I recommend you view the video and read the description at http://wave.google.com . It will take just over an hour.

Google Wave may unleash Web 3.0
For an explanation on Web 3.0, please see Web 1.0, Web 2.0, Web 3.0 and Web 4.0 explained ; Let’s transform the world in 365 days.

Google Wave changes the workflow delivering significant productivity gains to individuals and corporates which should drive rapid adoption. The individual only needs access to a browser. A computer and desktop applications are not required. Google Wave will be open source which means that any organisation can set up their own wave system.  There are different meanings of “open source” and it will be very interesting to see how Google licenses Wave. Google seems to be planning to give wave away for free.

Google Wave will have a revolutionary impact on the traditional desktop software industry
The impact of Google Wave is revolutionary. It could render desktop office productivity software obsolete as workflow and content is managed online. It could also render existing open source and commercial email servers obsolete. This will have major implications for the software industry. The advantage to Google is hard to measure directly. Simplistically, the more workflow and time spent online, the more revenue earned by Google. Perhaps, Google is being benevolent. Google Wave may be a masterful strategic move by Google that integrates a range of their online technologies and triggers a paradigm shift.

Google Wave could get 90% global penetration in three years
Given the paradigm shift in communication offered by Google Wave and open source licensing, the potential for rapid adoption is real. Email servers get upgraded and/or replaced every few years. This is a compelling upgrade that is likely to be demanded by households and business as a superior way to communicate. People will demand “waves”. Corporates will bypass much of the Web 2.0 point applications and implement Google Wave for an immediate productivity improvement.

I recommend you watch the video. You will immediately see the revolution in personal and business communications and opportunities to improve productivity.

Youtube video on Google Wave below: