MixedInk and the Crowd Doc!

Now here's a product I totally believe in. And yet also find a little scary, though for reasons that relate to my control freak nature, not because of flaws in the concept. MixedInk allows large groups of people to collaborate on a single document.A few months ago I wrote about a service called Zoho, but that solution is geared to small teams, typically less than ten people.

MixedInk is geared toward groups larger than 10. As Jason Kincaid described in his post on the company...

MixedInk is taking a different approach to collaboration, allowing users to draft their documents using a Digg-like voting system. Instead of constantly editing the same document, users are invited to submit their own versions, which can then be voted on and rated by their peers. As they they read drafts submitted by others, users can mouse-over the passages they like most and incorporate them into their own submissions (the system will also suggest popular passages as you write using keyword detection). Over time, the most popular passages and versions float to the top until the entire group is satisfied and voting ends.

The piece goes on to say that Slate is a charter user, allowing their thousands of visitors to create a collaborative Inauguration speech. So I thought I would use that as an example and serve you up some screens and comments










As you can see, the system essentially compartmentalizes sections or chunks of content people have submitted, and the collective audience votes on which option is best for a particular chunk of the document. The two levels of participation will add significantly to uptake of this concept since there are people who like to participate deeply, and those who want to be heard but with less time and creative commitments.

I found it compelling and addictive. First, because I love words and ideas, and second because the design is so pleasant and intuitive. Submit, read, vote, it's all pretty darned rewarding and entertaining. based upon the activity level I saw on the Slate site, it appears as if the concept is compelling to more than just me.

MixedInk just launched to the public, and it seems to be pretty robust and nonbuggy, which is a refreshing change from the coterie of 2.0ey crap that comes out of the gate broken and incomplete. Thanks for getting things more or less right before going public, MixedInk!

Back to how this jibes with my control freak nature. Would I like using this service extensively? Hmm, I think...that depends. Am I futzing with your doc, or are you editing mine? Your document belongs in this platform. Mine is better served by me retaining absolute control. ;-)

Seriously, MixedInk is positively nifty, and you should go RIGHT NOW and check it out.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.