Assessing the Four Online Collaboration Tools

This post aims to assess the four online collaboration tools based on a set of five criteria.

Five criteria:

1. user-friendliness
   
2. productivity-enhancing abilities
3. start-up barriers
4. storage and archive abilities
5. Stability

The analysis of the above described tools and parameters will be organized by criteria, and are concisely listed in bullet form for simple retrieval of information. A more in-depth analysis of the criteria can be found in each tool's overview page on the right.

I. User-Friendliness

Wiggio:

• Very intuitive
• Easy sign-in / registration
• Well designed interface

LucidChart:

• Very informative / instructional for first time user
• Familiar interface similar to other base graphics software
• Very simplistic, yet sophisticated

Writeboard:

• Simple start-up procedures
• Simple to learn
• Non-cluttered interface

Twiddla:

• Fun tool allowing user creativeness
• Quick and easy signup
• Multiple modes of communication for groups

II. Productivity-Enhancing Abilities

Wiggio:

• Maximizes communication for increased productivity
• Offers multiple modes of communication
• Has in-house office suite powered by Zoho

LucidChart:

• Diagramming is faster and easier than Google Doc's draw tool

• Orgo. and flow charts aid in pre-planning for increased productivity
• Beautiful graphics best represent the conceptual and brainstorming process

Writeboard:

• Compare function for version similarities
• Comment function for easy to track conversations

Twiddla:

• Multiple subject choices to collaborate over
• Real-time system
• Numerous methods to communicate with group members

III. Start-Up Barriers

Wiggio:

• 100% free for life
• Fully compatible with all web-browsers
• Simple registration

LucidChart

• No compatibility issues
• Option to "test-drive" before registration
• Requires paid subscription for substantial group projects

Writeboard:

• No fees associated with this tool
• No limit on number of uses
• Simple start-up procedures

Twiddla:

• Free guest service
• Technical support requires a subscription

IV. Storage and Archive Abilities

Wiggio:

• Group newsfeed archives all history
• 100% cloud technology

LucidChart:

• Free account limited to 25 MB and 60 shape limit use to library
• Team subscription starts at 5 GB
• Supports VDX, PNG, JPEG, and PDF files

Writeboard:

• All edits to text are tracked and available for comparison
• No system limitation on number of edits

Twiddla:

• Snapshots of collaboration available
• Acts as a whiteboard, so snapshot doesn't save actual documentation
• Able to track history

V. Stability

Wiggio:

• Files hosted by Amazon's Cloud servers

LucidChart:

• 100% cloud technology

Writeboard:

• Only guaranteed to be supported by a few specific browser types

Twiddla:

• Cloud technology enables access to data from anywhere with internet connection