Communication Tools for Collaboration
26 April 2010 Tweet We outlined our Taxonomy of Collaboration Tools in an earlier post. In the jungle of hundreds, if not thousands, of collaboration tools, the taxonomy helps us select appropriate tools based on our needs as opposed to the feature functionality of tools; that is, a selection based on what we want to do with the tools as opposed to what the tools can do for us.
In this post, we focus on communication tools for collaboration. For each type of communication tool, we offer a brief description of its purpose and a list of such tools. A couple caveats to keep in mind before we address this topic. First, a tool may fit into more than one category. And second, we make no effort here to address the age-old question whether the best-of-breed or suite approach is better for your own individual situation.
We now outline communication tools for collaboration.
Audio Conferencing (VoIP)
- Purpose: Meetings or presentations via audio call in which more than two locations involved
- Tools: Skype, YIM, Windows Live, AIM, GTalk, GVoice, ooVoo, Voxox, JahJah, REBTEL, Vyke, Voxli, Voxopop
Video Conferencing
- Purpose: Meetings or presentations between participants at two or more locations interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously
- Tools: Skype, YIM, Windows Live, AIM, GTalk, TokBox, Oovoo, Sightspeed, VSee, Mebeam, Flashmeeting, EyeJot, DoVisio, APideo, XyKast, Palbee, Scopia Desktop, Meeting24, Persony, InstantPresenter, HP SkyRoom, Wetoku, VisionKontakt, ViVu, Zorap
Whiteboarding
- Purpose: Marking-up, annotating and drawing in real-time on any document, image, screen, slide or picture appearing on the computer screen
- Tools: Dabbleboard, Skrbl, Vyew, GE ImaginationCubed, Depicto, Twiddla, Scriblink, Groupboard, Scribbler, ShowDocument, Flowchart, Virtual whiteboard
Web Conferencing
- Purpose: Conducting live web-based meetings or presentations between two or more parties at geographically dispersed locations. Participants connect over the Internet using a browser or downloadable software.
- Tools: WebEx, GoToMeeting, FuzeMeeting, Elluminate, Wimba Classroom, DigitalSamba, Centra, Elluminate VRoom. Adobe ConnectNow, WebTrain, iVocalize, DimDim, Spreed, WebHuddle, Zoho Meeting, OpenHuddle, MS Live Meeting, iLinc, Genesys, Omnovia, ReadyTalk, e-Lecta, Hypermeeting, Lotus LiveEngage, Live Conference Pro, Expressway, Flexchat, WebConference.com, DoConference, Nefsis, OpenMeetings, vMukti, MeetingPlace, OpenConference, Wiggio, VeriShow
Instant Messaging (IM)
- Purpose: “Chatting” in real-time using text-based communication between two or more people using computers or mobile devices. Participants use a browser or downloadable software. Most IMs now offer voice and/or video capabilities as well.
- Tools: Skype, YIM, Windows Live, AIM, GTalk, Meebo, eBuddy, ICQ, BigAnt, Palringo, Mundu, Campfire
Discussion Forums
- Purpose: Conducting text-based discussion in which participants “post” their comments on a specific topic or question. Participants can typically start a new topic, or respond to a topic, or comment on already posted comments on a topic.
- Tools: Groupsite, Zoho Discussions, Jive, Activeboard
Which tools do you use? What is your assessment of various communication tools for collaboration? Which other tools would you add to this list and to which category?
We would also love get your case studies that we can share with our audience!
Lokesh Datta
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