#6 Wetpaint and Google Sites

So, this will be the entry where I tell you about two types of wikis I don't recommend using: Wetpaint and Google Sites.

Wetpaint
Like PBWorks and Wikispaces, Wetpaint is a free, web-based wiki. But if you're interested in making a wiki for your library, your class group project, or anything else remotely serious, I wouldn't recommend this site. Wetpaint's catch phrase is, "Where superfans are superstars." Their main shtick is to host giganto TV show fan wikis, but anyone can sign up and create a free wiki about anything they'd like. No, thanks. Wetpaint wikis are flooded with ads, so much so that it's hard to see anything you actually created, and the entire site ends up looking like a giant pop-up. For a mere $19.95 a month, you can get rid of the sprawling ads, (compare that to Wikispaces $5 removal of much less intrusive ads,) but if you're expecting more than 20,000 views a month, they're going to charge you again. I'll pass. (I might check out their Glee wiki though...)

Google Sites
As I was doing this project, I wondered, where's Google on the wiki front? As we all know, they seem have their hand in everything. I thought maybe Google Docs was Google's only response to the wikimania craze, but I decided to look a little deeper. Turns out Google does have their own brand of wiki: Google Sites.

Back around 2005, a small company called JotSpot was just starting to make a splash with their wiki software. Google decided they wanted in and acquired the company in October 2006. In February 2008, JotSpot was re-released as Google Sites. In my opinion, Google Sites is unremarkable. They have your standard wiki features: ability to create pages, upload photos, anyone who's invited can easily edit, but no features really stand out.

The supposed advantage of Google Sites is that you can easily integrate your other favorite Google applications such as Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Google Maps. You can also search your site using a Google Search bar, putting their famous algorithms to work right inside your wiki. Additionally, just like on the Google homepage, your favorite Google links are listed at the top of your wiki, like Gmail and Google Reader. Google Sites is also what's called a "structured wiki," which means, if you know how, you can create your own lightweight applications, (called "Google Gadgets,") to use in your wiki. Users can then add Google Gadgets they've created to a list, so that other users can take advantage.

I can see how Google Sites might be enticing to someone who's a real Google fanatic and uses a lot of their applications. After trying it, I don't give this wiki high marks for usability though. To begin with, the ability to create your own gadgets is only useful if you know how to write HTML or JavaScript code. I'm betting this doesn't include the average wiki user, who's often drawn to wikis for the very reason that you don't need to know HTML code to use them. Secondly, Google Sites does weird things when you try to upload files. When you try to up post a picture or gadget, it asks you how many pixels x pixels you'd like to use. If you don't pick an appropriate number, it cuts off your picture or gadget, and you only have the trial and error process to fix it.

Finally, since the only real advantage I could see for my use of Google Sites was the ability to integrate my Google Docs into a wiki, I decided to give it a try. I inserted my Google Doc and it again gave me the frustrating pixels question. Once it was in there, I expected I would be able to edit my Doc within the wiki, just like in Google Docs. With no editing buttons present around the Doc, I couldn't figure it out. I consulted Google Sites help documents, but no luck. I'm sure I could have figured it out if I'd given it more time, but the key feature of wikis is they're supposed to be easy to use. If I can't figure it out in less than 5 minutes, it's not easy. Despite the testimonials they have listed on the homepage, (there's exactly 3,) I haven't heard of anyone I know bragging about, or even using, Google Sites. I can see why. I think Google missed the boat on this one.

What I do hear of people using all the time, however, is Google Docs. I think it's useful for a moment to compare Google Docs vs. wikis. After all, both are online, collaborative tools. So, if setting out on a project, which one should you use? Google Docs is great if you want to make a collaborative paper, spreadsheet, or PowerPoint presentation. It's easy for everyone to jump in and edit, and then later save the file in your preferred format for the final draft. You could write a paper in a wiki, but Google Docs is better suited for this task.

Think of wikis as living, collaborative environments with no set deadline. Google Docs is useful when you have a final product in mind. Wikis are more like simple websites that can continue to grow and change over an indefinite period of time. The features of Google Docs vs. wikis are unique enough that I don't see them as competitors. As for Google Sites? We'll see, but for now, they're no competition for easy to use wikis like PBWorks or Wikispaces.