2) Annotation Tool: Google Docs

I made a few sample google docs, testing the commenting and collaboration features. Anybody with the links can edit them. Feel free to do so:

Document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bWqRCKbGGaqDDCg6Kp4eMffP8N-PamFX8g9d8v5pFRQ/edit?usp=sharing

Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ai1iCm72d8xldDZ2S2hZekNUZEltYkRsS01TWGMwY3c&usp=sharing

Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16BaRLpE3FELUZW1Pb-t7hysjWXPjvQJBdZ0HwqUQhrk/edit?usp=sharing

Drawing: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1SYZJTM6rlNQPwbTF7pKm2_2tu5ZyIrBUJBK-lyELg0Q/edit?usp=sharing

Design Aspects: The user interface for all google docs is very simple and clean. All important functions are quickly available, at the top, or by right clicking. Very few unnecessary features.

Learning Aspects: All docs have a comment feature. Users can comment easily. All docs can have real time collaboration. Very easy to setup. Live chat window on the side. Best suited for text-based work. Drawing tool isn't very strong without a tablet.

Greatest Features: Full Office Suite: very flexible. Real time collaboration. Live chat. Easily Sharing. Easy permissions management. Good UI: Simple design. Important functions are quick to access. Is free. Version tracking (file ==> see version history)

Weaknesses: Version tracking not as good as word. Only text comments: no image, or audio comments. No built in calling feature without using gmail.

Missing some advanced features Document: No thesaurus. No charts. No advanced formatting. No templates. Spreadsheet: No spell check. No advanced graphs. Presentation: Can't copy and paste images into presentation. No advanced animation. Drawing: No free hand draw. Clunky drawing.

Typical learning situations: Students working together on a project (essay, code, design docs, lab report, etc.). Good for simple annotations.

Teachers will have hard time teaching through google docs (no chat, no video chat, poor comments, very poor drawing features).

-- Richard