Knowing Who

How to Save the World

Google has quietly announced that it has acquired Writely, a tool that simply allows users to use HTML as the standard for all document preparation (without having to learn HTML), and to share, collaborate and publish such documents to whomever they wish. In doing so, they have signaled that they understand the need to simplify desktop management the way they have simplified search, by burying all the complexity of document management and document transmission beneath a very simple meta-application. This is precisely what I have repeatedly called for to increase productivity of knowledge workers, encourage massively more sharing of important information, enable real-time collaboration and, most important, get the bulk of the 80% of the population still on the far side of the digital divide online and onside.

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The next great challenge for Google will be to simply the challenge of finding people (know-who) the way they have already simplified the challenge of finding information (know-what) and finding places (know-where). That means whether you're looking for an expert, a supplier, a business partner, a spouse, the Wisdom of Crowds, or a soul-mate, Google will get you there in one click. I have no doubt they are up to this challenge.