I’ve been writing about how I have been using Google Apps more and finally I was able to get my wife to accept her GMail invitation.  Then, I helped her setup a Google Home page with Google docs.

We are, as previously stated, separated but a couple things I discovered about being separated…  1) as the husband, ex-husband, partial ex-husband, you still have to lift heavy things for the lady you used to live with… 2) your finances are still tied together.  We went to court last week and worked out what I am supposed to pay in support.

How does this relate to Google Apps?
I created a google spreadsheet with household (actually, households – there are too) finances.  A shared it with Laura and online, collaboratively, we were able to view and alter the sheet simultaneously.

I could actually see when Laura was in a cell – it would blank out momentarily – and then she would alter a number or leave a note – a few times a snide comment about my anatomy or lack of hair…  (just kidding, kind of).

It did a couple things though.

1. She had input directly into our plan.
   The normal process was me preparing a spreadsheet and either printing it for Laura to review or her looking over my shoulder telling me what to adjust.  This, during heated moments or financial struggles, lead to arguments and increases anxiety.  Having her in another house – not even near me – with keyboard control actually felt nice.  She can make adjustments, I don’t have any looking over my shoulder, and no one misreads body language or tone..
    
2. We can review on our time.
   I setup the sheet based on what I knew – while Laura was off doing something else - taking a nap I found out.  I didn’t have to send her a copy for her to review and then send back for adjustments.  I went in and checked it this morning.  She can go back later today and review it.  Any revisions that her or I make are logged.
    
3. It felt like collaboration because it was…collaboration…  Laura and I have commented on how much better we relate living in separate houses.  Doing finances – real time – in different locations seems like a good plan too.

Of course, the ramifications for working with remote business partners and employees is pretty dramatic too.  More on this later.

How do you use Google apps for true, useful collaboration?  Note: useless chat is not collaboration.

As an aside - after I helped Laura get setup on GMail, Google Apps, Google Calendar, and Google Talk, I helped her setup her iGoogle home page.  Her comment, “So is this my G-Spot?”  She thought it was funny and I still have no idea what she is talking about.

Google marketing, have you gone down that road already?