Technology Break – Cloud Computing
Ok so it's time for a technology break from me... I'm kind of a nerd and enjoy most computer stuff so I thought I would share the new "buzz" concept coming forth in the technology world. It's been around for a long time, but it's just now taking fire because our abilities in technology is catching up with the idea. The idea is called Cloud Computing.
Cloud Computing is essentially moving the software and files that you keep stored on your local computer and moving it to the "Cloud" or internet. There's a good chance that you already have participated in cloud computing in the past, but you didn't know it was "Cloud Computing." So here's the example. Have you ever checked email or seen some one check email on Microsoft Outlook or Mac Mail? (I hope so because the example is hinged on the answer being "Yes.") It's a simple icon on a computer. It's clicked and email appears. Compare that to accessing email via Gmail.com, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail or any other of a number of web-based email services. When you access email through a website, you are essentially performing cloud computing. You don't need a program or application dedicated to accessing your email files. (Yes each email message is a file.) And can you point to a specific computer where your emails are stored on Gmail? They are stored on the "Cloud."
So anyway this type of computing is moving from email and simpler applications to bigger stuff. Here are some fun examples.
Documents (Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentations, etc)
Google Docs was launched back in 2005 or 06 (whatever). Anyway, you essentially don't need programs such as Microsoft Office, Word, Powerpoint, Excel and all that for simpler uses. But most of us don't really use too complex functions with any of these programs anyway.
Microsoft is responding with Docs.com. It's essentially MS Office for free online. It's in the Beta stages.
Photos
There are many websites that allow you to store images online. Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa are all examples. Editors such as Picnik, Fotoflexer, LunaPic are popping up.
Games
You can play a plethora of games online. Only the most complex ones are required to be stored on a computer or gaming system. And I would wager that many of our games on XBOX, Wii and PlayStation could be simplified for online use.
So there are some great things about cloud computing.
- Software is cheaper. Most all of these services are free for personal use.
- Easy collaboration. If you're working on a document with a team, you can all easily access and share a document on the cloud.
- Backup. Since a document or software program is stored on the cloud, you won't lose it due to a crash of your home computer.
- Simpler home computers. If you don't have to keep software up to date or install it, that means your computer runs faster and is easier to maintain.
There are also some disadvantages.
- Privacy. When you store a document, email, picture, whatever on a cloud, the cloud owner can probably access it or at least sell information based on that. If you use online email you can already see this happen. If your reading an email about music, you might see an advertisement for a new MP3 player.
- Connection Speed. Since everything is accessed through the internet, everything will be governed by the speed at which you can access the programs and files. So if you have a slow connection you might be out of luck. Also, getting a faster connection can be difficult, and I'm not talking about switching from Dial-Up to Cable Internet. New infrastructure is expensive. The next wave is probably wireless or satellite connectivity. But right now if you live in the sticks and don't have access to broadband internet, you might be out of luck when it comes to cloud computing.
- Dependence on the cloud. So when you give Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! or whoever all your info then you become dependent on that company. So (hypothetically) if everyone knows that your address is MightyMightyBosstoneFan@gmail.com then you're stuck with whatever Gmail does. So if they decided to shut down the service, you're out of luck. If they sell out to Communist China, your out of luck. Or if you allow them to hold all your pictures and then they make them accessible to anyone. There's not much you can do about it.
The Future...
As I mentioned, software will get cheaper. Since it's stored on the cloud, what you will mainly need is a means to access the internet. Google is already responding. About a year ago they introduced Google Chrome OS and it will be released to the public in the second half of 2010. It's an operating system like Windows or Macintosh, but it's very simple. It essentially runs only an internet browser that will give you immediate access to the internet and the cloud. Google is saying that it's mainly for use by the individual that only uses computers for internet browsing and word processing. This will undoubtedly make all computers cheaper as they introduce competition and it will place pressure on software developers to make software cloud accessible and cheaper or free.
So I hope this explains the new concept of cloud computing. Get ready. It's coming. If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to post them.