MixedInk, a document editing site that allows large groups to democratically create a single collaborative document, has launched its service to the public. The service fuses concepts from Digg and popular wiki sites to create a unique document creation tool that is ideal for groups far larger than you’d normally encounter in the workplace. In conjunction with today’s public launch, the site has also partnered with Slate to create a community-written inauguration speech for President Obama, which will be published on the site in two weeks.
While there are quite a few collaborative document services available (including Google Docs, Zoho, and the just-announced new version of iWork), most of these services focus on letting a small group of people interact. Unfortunately, these services are clumsy for large-scale collaboration with groups of more than a dozen or so people, as it becomes difficult to reach a consensus and certain sections are repeatedly overwritten.
MixedInk from MixedInk on Vimeo.
MixedInk is taking a different approach to collaboration, allowing users to draft their documents using a Digg-like voting system. Instead of constantly editing the same document, users are invited to submit their own versions, which can then be voted on and rated by their peers. As they they read drafts submitted by others, users can mouse-over the passages they like most and incorporate them into their own submissions (the system will also suggest popular passages as you write using keyword detection). Over time, the most popular passages and versions float to the top until the entire group is satisfied and voting ends.
MixedInk probably won’t be useful for small groups (it would probably be easier to pick up a phone), but for larger scale initiatives it could become a great alternative to traditional Wiki systems, which often use confusing versioning systems. The system has already been put to the test on some very large-scale documents: over the summer the technology was used by the Netroots community to write its platform.
The service is available for free to users who create documents on MixedInk’s site, with a premium version available for branded enterprise solutions and possible integration into other sites.
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I like the concept and they have a unique approach but the market seems saturated with companies offering similar services so the might have a tough time getting a foot hold.
Their 2.0 UI seems chunky and dated and so does their logo for that matter, looks a bit like a couple of fat people holding hands.
The logo looks like yellow blob is orally copulating with Blue blob.
That’s exactly the look we were going for!
Initial branding efforts sometimes are forgotten in the heat of battle. This one is a bit distracting from an otherwise top notch offering.
Call us, MixedInk!
only looks good tho, if you go and try it you might be pulling on your hair after using it for 5minutes, they need lot more work on many of their functions.
Create or join a crunchie’s chat group at http://groups.im/
Nice, pretty innovative.
Interesting idea. I like the idea of using it to write to elected representatives, since half the battle is just getting motivated to do it. It might be useful to let big companies know about problems a lot of people have with a product or service too. Don’t know if people will use it, but cool idea nonetheless.
hey, mixed ink… whatever the other comments say, i still like the branding. i suppose that makes sense, given that i took a few market research surveys to decide which logo i liked the best.
and i must say after using this tool a number of times through test runs and on the democratic platform, i believe it will prove to be an innovative and effective way to get a large number of voices heard.
thanks mixedink!
JL
Mixedink
I love this
Very cool
Let’s hope the Obama administration adopts this. Love the idea.
Also, the narrator in that video above sounds EXACTLY like Navi Rawat, who plays Amita Ramanujan (Charlie’s girlfriend) on CBS’ Numb3rs.
What a fantastic idea for collaboration on research, product development, etc — love it.
Having seen MixedInk in action here in Washington, DC and having spent time tackling the issue of email in Congress this will be a welcome tool that groups can use to write collaboratively. Whether it is used by people writing a letter together for political purposes or other purposes (there are definitely non-political uses of this) it rocks. The MixedInk team has created a great product that offers a smooth user experience.
I’m also glad to see a Washington, DC area startup and Social Matchbox alumni getting noticed here on TechCrunch.
Bob
Jobmatchbox.com
These guys are breaking some new ground! I haven’t seen anything that can even remotely do what it does. Nice work.
I’ve posted a comparison of consensus voting systems, MixedInk included:
http://zelea.com/project/votorola/compare.xht
If you see any errors, please correct me!
Mike
i know i am enjoying the experience of browsing and seeing everyone’s ideas and how they have evolved. it all just seems so poetic - http://web-poet.com/2009/01/13/mixedink/