EtherPad - Collaborating on a document

As I mentioned we are on term break but as always there is a lot that needs to be done for the second semester.

The other day I did some learning materials planning with a colleague over Skype and we started to share a document through Google Docs and though I really like the formatting that is allowed in Google Docs it doesn't allow for both people to edit the one document at the same time (synchronised). My colleague recommended we use EtherPad instead.

EtherPad allows multiple users to edit the one document at the same time.

EtherPad isn't fancy but it has great import and export features, all people can edit at the same time and chat. It saves time by not having to take notes or wait until someone gets an email reads it changes it and returns it.

One of the great features is to upload a document that has already been started and then changing as it is being discussed. Each users has a different colour highlighting the text they are changing or creating and so you can see who is doing what.

I think it is a great way of catching all discussion points and then all people can download the document instantaneously and have a record of what was going on and what needs to be worked on in the future.

The planning documents created will end up back in Google Docs for working on asynchronicity as this project is ongoing and only beginning.

Anyway check out EtherPad if you have any planning to do and don't want to leave the house / office especially in the middle of winter.