Post date: Aug 24, 2010 2:33:49 AM
Sometimes you have to ask yourself the reasons for which technology is pushed. I have been examining the cloud computing buzz and efforts to push its understanding and adoption. There have been several commentaries written about Cloud Computing's state of flux with respect to its differing definitions and perceptions. Keeping things simple goes a long way and all in all Cloud Computing really boils down to doing Computing differently. The interface message processor(IMP) brought about a different way with which computer communications had been accustomed to. An aspect of computer communications involves the reception and transfer of computing data elements that are targeted for some computer analysis or display device. Before the IMP such computer communications were done in a geographically central location. The IMP gave birth to remote geographically distributed computer communications that has evolved into what we currently know as the internet.
Technological ideas are sometimes realized before standardization takes place. Such is the case with Cloud computing where a common standard is sought after in oder to handle several concerns most of which has a lot to do with privacy and security. The concerns with privacy and security for cloud computing is in part due to the increasing sensitive nature of the data that transitions away from users who rely upon and utilize a cloud computing architectural model. In the past, the traditional computing model left the responsibility of storing sensitive data with the user. For example, before technically advanced email applications such as Google's Gmail users had a mail application that resided on the users computing machine where the user solely stored the email data and had the option of leaving a copy of the data on the remote server that distributes the email. I do not personally have an email application on my computer due to the benefits that advanced online email applications like Gmail provides. My bills are stored and payed by online banking applications which eliminates the monthly bill reception and payment transfer by traditional hand carried mail. The reasons for which I adopt such technological advances is mainly to to the convenient manner with which I can access such applications in a remote manner. Remote convenience brings about the ability to make more efficient use of valuable time where time saved can be time spent towards other areas that increase a persons quality of life such a relaxation or generating more income. Just as the IMP started a reliance on remote computing, Cloud Computing places an unsurmountable objective that ever increases the reliance on remote aspects of user computing. For example, Google's Chrome Operating System (OS) is undergoing experimentation that involves booting directly into a browser like window that is connected to the internet. Google recently provided the user with the ability to play PAC Man through it's web site without the user having to download and install an application.
Monetary aspects underpin both commercial and political motivations for bringing about changes for people in society. The monetary savings which Cloud Computing provides, due to an increased ability to manage complexity and conserve resources, is extremely attractive from both commercial and political perspectives. With such monetary attractiveness, Cloud Computing has boiled down to driving the acceptance of technological advances in remote computing that has been hyped through the marketing of the Cloud Computing buzzword. Stay tuned....I'll be right back............
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