Technical communication is extremely important in the workplace. Efficiency, accuracy, productivity are three key factors in an excellent workplace setting, well written technical documents go a long way in improving these factors. In the age of technological innovation paired with a Silicon Valley boom or bust startup economy in the app market, the efficiency of communication is constantly being re defined. Email is no longer fast enough in some instances in the workplace, because new apps do it quicker better. Many innovative communication platforms have arisen that make communication easier. In hopes of finding new exciting ways to improve technical communication, we have chosen to review 10 apps that have the potential to enhance communication; three apps have been given detailed reviews: Skype, Convoi, Google Calendar. Criteria By using a set of criteria, we were able to rank which apps our group felt best enhanced technical communication amongst the workplace. The 5 criterion we used to evaluate the apps were: User friendly/ease of use Accessibility Qualities for enhancing communication Design Reliability. To clarify, user friendly/ease of use dictates how easily users are able to navigate through the app to use the app as intended. Accessibility describes the availability of the app based on price, available devices, location. Apps should provide desirable features qualities that contribute to enhancing communication in a workplace. The design refers to the visual layout of the app. Reliability defines how dependable the app is to users in regards to any operational issues. All of these criteria together give a well rounded evaluation of the app. Evaluated Apps We evaluated 10 apps, from these original 10 apps we chose 3 apps to review. The ten apps were: Cloze Gmail Hightail Linkedln Skype Convoi Google Calendar 1
Zula Whatsapp Werlist Cloze Cloze is a unique app that brings your emails, social media posts, tweets, etc. into one place, organizes them in a way that highlights the people you care about most. Specifically, the free app integrates posts from Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn with your emails, provides a place to manage all of your contacts from all of these different apps. A people centered view is presented that cuts out the unimportant posts highlights the posts from the people you most care about, all using a unique algorithm. This app is ideal for those who don t want to keep switching between checking their email, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn apps. Gmail Gmail a free app that allows users to access the email service on the go. The app allows users to use up to five accounts sends out real time notifications that alert users of any new emails. The customizable tabs sorts out emails into various categories such as social or primary allows the user to decide which emails to open. Hightail Hightail is a cloud storage system that was originally developed to allow users to send files that were too long to send by email. Files up to 10GB can be shared securely with other users with the professional package, users can control who s allowed to see, edit, update files. Much like other cloud storage apps, Hightail can be accessed anywhere. The downside to Hightail is the cost; the free service only offers limited features, the professional service bought ($15.99/month/user) to receive all of the features listed above. LinkedIn LinkedIn is a social networking site where business professionals can establish connections with other professionals or previous co workers. It is designed for professional networking where individuals can browse through a database of job listings as well as connect with potential business partners. LinkedIn is a great tool for opening up opportunities in a user s professional career. Zula Zula is an app that enhances team communication by creating a seamless stream of focused conversation. It allows the user to chose people from different social media platforms to join a conversation. A conversation through zula can allow for the sharing of files, polling, instant messaging, conference calls. Although Zula 2
contains many components that enhace communication, it does not have video conferencing, the ability to create files, is free for only a limited amount of time. Whatsapp Whatsapp is a messenger service app that allows for messaging strictly through wifi or through the same Internet data plan used by the user. The app is free allows for basic messaging, group messaging, exchange of images, video audio media messages. Whatsapp contains some great features for communicating but lacks the ability to make calls, which many other apps we evaluated contained. WerList WerList is an organizational communication app. Users are able to make view an assortment of lists. From simple grocery lists to a list of the best romantic comedy films, werlist keeps the users lists up to date. The app is free available on iphone, ipad, Android, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle Fire the Web. Unfortunately, Werlist is mainly an organizational tool less so a communication tool, making it pale in comparison to some of the other apps reviewed. We found that the next three apps proved exceptional in regards to all 5 criterion discussed above. Therefore, we provided detailed reviews of these apps. Skype Skype is a well known widely used communication application that is available in over 170 countries. Skype is an excellent tool when considering the enhancement of communication within the workplace. The feature that skype is most widely recognized for is video chatting. Not only can a user have real time, face to face conversation with one other user, they can video chat with up to 10 other people. Group video chat is a great feature that can be used for business meetings where colleagues may be spread out amongst different locations. In addition, skype contains features such as instant messaging, voice calls, voice messages for quicker, less formal communication which is ideal when multi tasking. Moreover, skype allows users to send files share screens. Skype also contains a unique feature called, skype buttons. Skype buttons are buttons that can be added to a website allow for a visitor to click the button skype directly with a representative from the company or website. Accessibility is extremely important when considering an application. Skype is accessible on many devices including, tablets, smartphones, computers, etc in over 170 countries. Moreover, skype is free between skype users, however, there are upgrades in service which do cost money. Skype also has a very 3
intuitive interface that can be understood by individuals who speak different languages. Reliability is also a very important when considering a communication app. Skype is extremely reliable as long as a strong Wi Fi connection is present. Overall, skype is ideal when considering an application to use as a communication tool in the workplace. Convoi Convoi is an application used to enhance communication for personal work interactions. Whether it is used for staying in touch with friends or for working with a project team, Convoi allows users to stay connected. This app allows work groups or personal groups to stay in contact on a daily basis. Unlike many other messaging apps, users do not need to create an account since the mobile phone number serves as the user s ID. The design layout of Convoi is visually appealing easy for any user to navigate through. Participants can be added from a user s contact list since participants in the groups are not required to have the app. Group messaging is available any time from in app or SMS text messages. Users can make conference calls to all members of the group. This feature can support up to 40 callers. A conference call phone number is provided for each conference room. All members have access to the phone number any member can start the call. There is also a schedule call feature that sets up an automatic call to all conference room members at a designated time set by the user. The group messaging conference call features provide an easy way for co workers team project members to share ideas work on the project virtually anywhere anytime of the day. Users can easily create groups in seconds can send out conference calls from one tap. The app itself is free to download. The group messaging conference call features are also free. Currently, Convoi is only available on iphone, ipad, ipod touch devices. The app is also only available in the United States Canada. Convoi is an emerging app will continue to attract users with its communication capabilities features. As the app continue to grow in popularity, the company will likely exp to accommodate platforms to increase availability in other countries. Convoi is reliable in sending receiving messages phone calls to enhance communication. Google Calendar Google Calendar s main strength lies in its ability to share calendars with others while instantly syncing any changes online to be accessed from anywhere across all devices. Each calendar, to which events are planned added to, has an owner that can update it. All changes are saved then instantly appear on other devices. For instance, if a user adds an event on their laptop, it is instantly synced to their smartphone will appear on their smartphone calendar app. An owner can also share his or her calendars with others. The owner controls who can see it, who can edit it, who can share it with other people. The calendar can be made public or private. Public calendars even exist which can be subscribed to, such as religious holidays the Penn State Nittany Lions Football schedule. When an event is added to a calendar, it automatically appears on everyone else s calendar who subscribed to the calendar, across all devices they have Google Calendar installed on. This 4
means that an owner of a company can schedule an event that will automatically appear on all employees smartphones the next time they check their agenda. This sharing capability is what makes the app so innovative. Other communication enhancing features that Google Calendar offers include reminders, shareable to do lists, event importing from GMail, invitations where users can send out event invitations other users can RSVP. The app has good reliability infrequent crashes, the app is free, the app has a simple design with daily, weekly, monthly, agenda views, the app is accessible on all browsers devices: these three factors further contribute to why this app was chosen as an outsting app for enhancing communication. There are only a few downsides to this app, however. The first is the learning curve associated with sharing, importing, subscribing to calendars. Second, there is no iphone app on the Appstore for Google Calendar a users Google calendars synced with the iphone calendar or other supported calendar service. To some, setting up the automatic syncing from Google to iphone calendars is confusing; however, Google provides instructions for how to do this. Even with the difficulties, once the app is up running, the benefits are plentiful. Everyone in the workplace will be in attendance on time to all events! Conclusion Apps have revolutionized the way society goes about communication. Throughout this document, 10 apps have been evaluated 3 apps: skype, google calendar, convoi, have been highly recommended for enhancing communication throughout the workplace. 5
Category A B C D/F Format Complies with all assignment requirement s. Document has excellent visual appeal. Complies with several of the assignment requirement s. The document has good visual appeal, but could be striking. Complies with a few of the requirement s. The document has some elements of visual appeal but needs several. Document lacks visual appeal. astutely geared to audience purpose. compelling appropriatel y detailed. geared to audience purpose. detailed, but not compelling. Writer neglected to target content to audience purpose. requires detail can be compelling. Purpose is not evident. Audience is not targeted. detailed. compelling. Organization/Topic Organizatio n facilitates reader. Topic are developed supported by apt evidence. One or two topic require developmen t. Or some evidence doesn t fit. More than two topic require developmen t. Or evidence does not fit. Introduction Hook grabs reader attention. Reader centered purpose clear direct. Preview Hook is not compelling to reader. Reader centered purpose clear direct. Preview Hook is missing. Reader Centered purpose hard to follow. Preview Purpose preview statements are missing. 6
statement previews all content is phrased in parallel structure. statement previews all content, but is not phrased in parallel structure. hard to follow. Expression/wording Ideas are clearly expressed wording is easy to follow. One or two reread a number of times before the meaning is clear. A few reread a number of times before the meaning is clear. Many reread a number of times before the meaning is clear. Grammar No grammar errors. One or two grammar errors, but they do not detract from communicati on. Grammar errors detract from communicati on. Grammar errors diminish writer s credibility. Submission All submission guidelines followed. Submission guidelines not clearly followed. Part of submission process missing or incorrectly followed. Final grade: 7