'Killer App' for Research Launched: colwiz (Free Resource for Academic Community)

From an Oxford University Announcement:

New free software, launched by Oxford University scientists, gives researchers the tools they need to collaborate more efficiently and quickly with colleagues scattered around the world and working in a variety of different research areas.
The colwiz (‘collective wizdom’) R&D platform manages the entire research lifecycle from an initial idea, through a complex collaboration, to publication of the results. It is being launched through Isis Innovation’s Software Incubator – a new programme designed to promote software start-ups from the University of Oxford.
‘At the moment researchers are using a dizzying array of different applications to communicate and collaborate,’ said colwiz Chief Scientist Professor David Gavaghan of Oxford University. ‘These might include Google Apps, Microsoft Live Services, LinkedIn, Yammer and Social Text. But because these are separate applications they don’t do everything and don’t always talk to each other, and this slows researchers down. colwiz replaces this hotchpotch with an integrated suite of tools custom-built for fast and efficient management of the research process.’
At the heart of the colwiz platform is a publication library that enables users to manage publications using both a desktop application (for Windows, Linux and Mac) and a version ‘in the cloud’ that can be accessed from anywhere over the Internet. This is combined with communications and collaboration tools for brainstorming, research tasks and schedule management.
[Clip]
Members of academic institutions from US and UK universities can sign up for free and start using the colwiz platform. There are plans to extend the support to further academic institutions, government R&D organisations and commercial enterprises in the near future

Direct to colwiz Website (List of colwiz Features Listed on Homepage)
You’ll also find a link at the top of the page to register for the service.
Direct to colwiz Blog
Hat Tip and Thanks: Jill O’Neill

Filed under: Libraries, Management and Leadership, Patrons and Users, Resources