The Google team behind Maps, in an attempt to conjure a similar breath of fresh air in the way we communicate, announced last week its development of Google Wave. With an online communications tool that purports to combine e-mail, blogs, instant messaging, and wikis, they’re well on their way. (Google Wave’s launch date is as yet unannounced.)

In my mind, the most significant innovation of Google Wave is its treatment of a communication thread – instead of being sent around as a permanent entity, a thread (now a “wave”), becomes a living, nearly breathing resource.

Imagine a message you’d written to several coworkers about a project, with details that weren’t altogether fleshed out. With Google Wave, your coworkers would get your wave, add their questions (which you’d then see) and would notice edits you make to include project details as they develop. Everyone sees and refreshes the same hosted document.

Google Wave highlights include:

· Real-time typing option, which makes each wave a potential venue for instant messaging, with – allow me to repeat – real-time typing (Time to polish your keyboard prowess.)

· Private messaging, so that certain parties can only see select parts of your wave

· Live interaction with Wave extensions, like a “Yes/No” RSVP gadget, polls, and, sure – maybe a game or two (Developers, start   your engines!)

· “Playback” allows a wave’s newcomers to get up-to-date on the conversation

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