When it comes to computer related subjects, evolution seems hyperbolic. From the slow-start days of the computer in the 1940s, to the speed of evolution in the new millennium, this has become self-evident. It’s not easy to keep up with the new developments in the computers themselves, and the applications that are developed for them.

Such is the case with electronic communications. First used over 40 years ago, and originally modeled after traditional (snail) mail, it seems to have become obsolete in structure and function. Google took a shot at updating it based on tools available now that weren’t available 40 years ago, and recently came up with an attempt to answer the question: What would e-mail look like if it was invented today? The answer: Google Wave. Still in Preview and only obtainable by invitation, it is but a rough draft of what it can become, and I think it is already impressive.

It would take a really long article to explain everything Wave can do. But since a picture is worth a thousand words and a video is probably worth thousands of pictures, I leave you with a few million words worth in these videos below. I have arranged them in sequence, from short and simple to long and complex:

This first video is short and very graphic, and gives a basic notion of what Google Wave is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDu2A3WzQpo

This next video is a guy’s take on demonstrating what Wave can do, by “translating” a scene of Pulp Fiction into Wave:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcxF9oz9Cu0

These next two are from Google team members, first the abridged overview (less than 10 minutes version):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6pgxLaDdQw

And then the full version that is mentioned at the beginning of the above one. It is for you to watch if you are curious for more information from the above videos. It is 80 minutes long:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_UyVmITiYQ

So there you have it. In my opinion, this represents an evolution, and the future of communication.