What is Google Docs

While most people use Google as a search engine to find information on the internet, Google has created numerous other services or ‘applications’ to assist computer users, often providing them free of charge. By providing many of these applications via the internet and for free, Google encourages a new approach to computing. Most computer users still use their personal computer to store software and the different files they create. Google’s applications are often software that you do not have to load on your computer but access via the internet the same way you would your email account. Google pushes computer users to move away from the PC-based model of computing for a web-based model, or what is often called ‘cloud computing’. Cloud computing is a model for computer users in which they go to the internet for just about any project or task. As wireless internet becomes more accessible, and more people use mobile devices, cloud computing will offer more and more services.

One important feature of the cloud computing trend involves office software, which till now has been dominated by PC-based software, primarily Microsoft (MS) Office. Google Docs is Google's web-based office suite. Google Docs and MS Office each have their benefits and drawbacks. On the one hand, Google Docs offers free access, free online storage, and a number of collaborative features. On the other hand, MS Office remains the most widely used office suite, has numerous features that Google Docs does not, and offers much more support and training opportunities. Also, in response to Google Docs, MS has recently launched SkyDrive, a web-based, stripped-down version of MS Office. It is important to remember that Google Docs is always being revised, and has some limitations. Google Docs will get better over time but it has a long way to go before it matches MS Office. Yet, for many people, it provides the basic programs they need to complete their daily tasks, and the storage, collaboration and accessibility features MS Office and other programs do not. This guide will help those unfamiliar with Google Docs to decide if it can be useful for them. It assumes you have limited computer experience and covers the most basic operations for using Google Docs. Finally, by learning how to use Google Docs, attendees will hopefully gain a better understanding of the cloud computing trend.