The Triangle

Issue date: 10/9/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Tara Giancaspro

Google recently released new features for Google Docs and spreadsheets, including an equation editor, translation of text documents and advanced surveys, that are specially designed to help students get their work done and study. These new additions to the Google Doc "toolbox" allow users to more quickly and easily share their information with other people.

Google Docs and spreadsheets allow users to take notes when on the go, because the documents always stay tied to a student's Google account. Also, because it is online, one can easily collaborate with classmates on a group project, since everyone will always have the most recent copy.

It allows for the ability to have members of a math study group all take notes, without having to waste time comparing notes, since everyone is using the same document and can access it pretty much 24/7.

"The biggest overall benefit [of using Google Docs] is letting everybody look at one version of a document, and not having to worry about it," Mervin Chound, director of performing arts for Campus Activities Board, said.

Other new features include subscript and superscript support for when the user doesn't need an entire equation editor and advanced bulleting styles for outlining.

Previously to get these features, one would have to buy expensive software like Microsoft Office 2007, or use premium Web services such as SurveyMonkey Pro. Additionally, one can quickly and easily share their information with other people, without having to worry if they sent them the latest data. In fact, someone can watch another edit a document as they type in the same document.

However, there are a few drawbacks to using Google Docs. One is that the user has to be online in order to view and edit documents. This can be a drawback if a user does a lot of traveling and does not always have Internet access. Another is that it still does not have the same wide feature set as commercial desktop publishing software like Microsoft Office.

"I think it is weak. It's too premature to be used seriously," Ben Toll, a sophomore information technology student, said. "It has great potential to be used in the future; I think [Google] can do so much better, as they already have the technologies to do so."

Although it is still limited in feature scope, some agree that Google Docs has potential.

Google Docs is also used heavily around Drexel. Currently, one organization that uses Google Docs heavily is CAB.

"Starting this year, our new president kind of really pushed towards Google Documents," Choun said. "[The new survey tool] would be great, because being able to set up a more elaborate survey would definitely help is in getting data [from the student population]."

Choun said the productivity suite would let CAB be more focused, instead of having vague questions for surveys.

More and more student organizations are thinking about using Google Docs to help them with keeping track of their information.

"My organization currently does not use Google Docs," Aaron Mapoy, vice president of the Filipino Intercultural Society at Drexel University, said. "After reviewing the tool, I definitely think that it could be a great resource for FISDU. I especially like the survey tool so that I can quickly get information from my club member."

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