A student requested an interview to ask about cloud computing. Answers to her questions may be googled in the web. I thought of writing my opinion on the topic.
Cloud computing is a set of methods and technologies permitting remote keeping, storage and now, processing of data in the web through an array of flexible services an individual or organization can avail of.
Cloud computing is one of the relevant offshoots of web 2.0 (or rather web 3.0) technologies. As you know, web 2.0 technologies embody a model of open systems and development and cloud is one of these.
It is a solution for small businesses, organizations and individuals who have limited resources but value the information they have.
Cloud computing is also the answer to the many personal or professional curation issues an individual or organization encounters. For instance, in my case as a teacher, I would want to preserve the best works or projects or my students in digital form. Most of the time I have to confine myself to CDs, file cabinets or the college network server. But if I am at home, I am unable to access these storage. But if the best works or projects are in the web, I can organize and access them anytime.
Another example–
The other significant advantage of cloud is it permits sharing of data. In this era of collaboration–time, distance and space are secondary barriers now because of cloud. I do data gathering, research, analysis and different aggregations/consolidation of data with the help of cloud tools and other applications such as Googledocs, Dropbox, Twitter and Skype. These are some applications colleagues from Sweden, Canada, Australia or the US that we use and share. I was the one who taught my Canadian friend how to use cloud and she was happy about it. I was able to teach her about this web storage. She found it as a safe haven for her enormous FGD interview data and considers it as a backup facility.
What are the values to the society–
1. Consider your data and information as an asset or property. If you consider it as a day to day utility, you keep it in your house. But if you consider it valuable, you put it in a safer place– the cloud.
2. Small business or small organization or not-so-tech-frantic individuals may not invest on servers, time capsule or time machines. These storage are expensive and requires an above average understanding of computer configurations. It means it is not so manageable. So the cloud is a very good alternative. A small business, a small organization or even individuals may just pay for the services. And the fees are affordable.
3. Our societies are now in an era of information and communication viral– from personal to academic or professional standpoint. Information and communication activities require technologies so we can sustain these two essentials in our daily lives. Cloud is one of the best technologies that permit us to organize, access, use, share or even collaborate information and communication.
Cloud computing is a strong actor in bridging the digital divide. Information and communication are basic, tangible knowledge commodities that should be enjoyed by every person. And cloud computing makes it possible for everyone to enjoy these.
convictionsandfreethoughts 