People chips

You are now able to mention people directly in Google Docs - they get represented as "chips" and work more subtle than comments, offering new use cases.

Chips are the new favorite metaphor with Google Workspace designers and the ultimate composable unit. Chips are used very widely, but shine when they are units of information that can be moved around. A good example are mail recipients in Gmail. Once typed, email addresses become chips. Other email programs make you edit a semicolon-separated list.

The chips are down, people.

Email addresses as chips. You can drag them around between search fields, or reorder them. Much better than cutting and pasting.

Search operators presented as chips in search (Gmail). You can add and remove the attributes.

How to insert people chips in Google

Easy - just type the person's name! Smart compose will offer to complete any name from your Google Contacts directory. You can also type @, followed by the persons' name.

If the person does not have access to the document, Google Docs will suggest you give access. Selecting Don't show again will stop Docs from suggesting for the current documents (you will not be able to turn the suggestions back on). Turning this off for documents you will never share (like rolling meeting minutes for yourself) is a good idea.

People chips vs. comments

Mentioning people in the document using chips will not notify those people. (Of course, if you give them access, they will receive a notification that you granted access.) This may change in the future, though.

Comments and assignments will also prompt to give people access. Once they have access, people will always be notified that there is a new comment mentioning them.

People chips being used in a document.

Why this is great

Chips look great

Google Docs looks great in general, but with people chips can make your attendee lists or distribution lists look very orderly.

Chips show additional information

Using people chips, you will never again misspell a name or pick the wrong person. You will easily know someone's phone, email and location from your Google Directory.

Chips lead to action

Depending on what you are doing in Docs, people chips can be a very handy point to jump off and take action. Starting a call, a chat, seeing availability and scheduling a meeting or emailing someone is just a button away.

People chips are a small, but helpful addition to Google Docs - they bring underused Google Contacts' hovercards (already present in Gmail and Calendar) and make them useful. Google Sheets has something similar - try creating columns with email addresses. Small or not, making the various instruments of Google Workspace into an orchestra is always welcome. This is how you unlock exponential value. Thank you for reading!

#docsPublished 2021-02-02 by Holger Matthies.Modified 2021-02-02 by Holger Matthies.

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