Panopticon or Panacea? Googledocs, Word Processing, and Collaborative Real-time Editing

Abstract

Thirty years ago a debate broke out in humanities departments over word processing programs, new software that increased the speed of drafting, while simultaneously allowing continuous editing – a feature that some critics found problematic. Collaborative real-time editing (CRTE) represents a similar technological change to composition. CRTE is technology incorporated into Google Docs that allows multiple users to edit the same document simultaneously. However, the socialization of the drafting process brings new challenges: it exposes writing at an earlier stage, and changes composition from a private act into a semi-public one. CRTE could transform the lonely nature of drafting into a collective experience. We ought to consider how best practices, combined with interface design, can mitigate the drawbacks of socialized drafting, while maximizing its benefits.