Tim Starling wrote:
I feel the same way, which is why I'm not suggesting that we send the actual text typed into the edit box to the server. Just some meta-information such as number of characters typed, or an explicitly public summary. Perhaps we could have a separate textbox where the user can type a message to send to other people viewing the edit page. Imagine if you could type "I'm busy rewriting this rubbish stub, don't bother fixing the spelling". Then anyone else who opened the article from new pages patrol would know to stay away. It would save a lot of edit conflicts.
Ok. But you wrote: ... "and the edit summary they have typed if any"
So others could see the edit summary? (Shudder ;)
Maybe an optional message box would be helpful (editable). The message while editing might not be the same as the edit summary.
Chatting with each other while editing? Like an IRC channel with the title of the page?