Google Throws Another Tool Against the Wall With 'G-Mod'

Google's launch of Google Moderator Thursday reminds us that it has been having quite a busy few months.

First, we saw Google Wave hit the shore, with a dynamic, collaborative, real-time (and confusing) way to exchange ideas, thoughts and content among lots of people. Then, we saw Google Buzz, with a dynamic, collaborative, real-time (and confusing) way to exchange ideas, thoughts and content among lots of people. Now, Google is providing us with Google Moderator, which is, er, a dynamic, collaborative, real-time (and confusing) way to exchange ideas, thoughts and content among lots of people.

To some, it might seem like Google is just throwing any kind of collaboration or social networking tools against the wall to see which ones stick. Since everybody uses Google, there's always a fair chance that one of them will.

But can "G-Mod" compete with technology that Microsoft has developed with SharePoint, or that IBM/Lotus has developed with Notes and Domino?

The answer to this question depends less on the quality of the product and more on whether enough people actually uses the product. If the best technology always won in the marketplace, we might all be using OS/2 Warp now instead of Windows 7.

The basic concept of Google Moderator is to give everybody the opportunity to create a text-and-video, town-hall-kind-of environment, online. A moderator can ask a question either in text or via Youtube video, and field answers and discussion from people all over the world.

Others are saying it's a Youtube platform to help people "crowdsource suggestions." If past is prelude, people will find uses for Google Moderator that not even Google has imagined. Some of them will be spammy, some might actually be valuable.

Let's see if what you think. Here's a first attempt at using Google Moderator.