Adobe Buzzword

Sometimes collaboration can get cumbersome: tracking versions of the document, managing the comment clutter in the margins, working with others who do not have the same version of the word processing program that you do.

A relatively new option for collaboration is Adobe Buzzword. Buzzword is an online word processor that behaves like a desktop word processor but operates inside a web browser. While it is currently in beta form, it is remarkably stable and extremely useful and straightforward.

How professors can use Buzzword:

• Collaborate on research projects.
• Collaborate on publishing articles.
• Provide reviewers easy access to documents.
• Review documents written by teams of your students.

Major Features of Buzzword:

• Access documents through a web browser and not a desktop application.
• Collaborate with many co-authors.
• Give different levels of access (co-author, reviewer, or reader).
• Effortlessly control versions and track changes.
• Insert images and work with tables in a document.
• Export to EPUB – for eBook publishing to portable devices (like smart phones with e-book readers) and to reading devices.

In addition, what you see on the screen is exactly how your document will print. (Formatting in Google documents is altered when converting the document to Microsoft Word.)

You can share the document with others—even those who don’t have an Adobe Buzzword account. A link to the document is created that can be copied and pasted into an e-mail or instant message chat. Going to this URL gives read only access to the document.

Since Google documents have been around for quite some time, some might wonder about the advantage of using Adobe Buzzword. Maybe this example will help. Google documents are like ice milk: lean, trim, and healthy. Buzzword is like Haagen Dazs: creamy, rich, fattening, very fulfilling. So, splurge a little. Dish up a bowl full of Buzzword and see how it tastes. It’s delicious — even in beta form.

Buzzword works in Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari on the Macintosh and Windows operating system. For more information, visit Adobe Buzzword and the Buzzword frequently asked questions.

Click here to view a document in Buzzword. This is an expanded version of this tech tip and demonstrates more Buzzword features.