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By: Rick McCallion
cloud
/klaʊd/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kloud] Show IPA
–noun
1. a visible collection of particles of water or ice suspended in the air, usually at an elevation above the earth's surface.
2. any similar mass, esp. of smoke or dust.
3. a dim or obscure area in something otherwise clear or transparent.
4. a patch or spot differing in color from the surrounding surface.
5. anything that obscures or darkens something, or causes gloom, trouble, suspicion, disgrace, etc.
6. a great number of insects, birds, etc., flying together: a cloud of locusts obscuring the sun.
I often find it interesting how technology not only introduces new words to our vocabulary, and in this case, adds new contexts to existing words. Today, I look at the word “cloud” and how “cloud-computing” has given a new definition to this word.
Quite simply, cloud computing is the ability to run applications through (and on) the Internet. Where in the past, we would have to install an application on our local workstation, with cloud computing, this is no longer necessary. The only necessary required software is to have a compatible web browser.
What are the benefits of cloud computing and what does it mean to us?
Well – first of all, the most obvious benefit is portability. With an application in the “cloud”, this means it is instantly accessible from just about anywhere. The local library – the Internet café – perhaps even from a web-enabled cell phone. It is no longer a requirement to physically install an application on a specific workstation.
Since WiFi connections are becoming more and more prevalent, this means if one has a notebook with a wireless LAN card and a solid WiFi connection, they could use their cloud-based applications from just about anywhere.
During the very early years in my career, I worked as a support analyst for a large telecommunications company. The year would have been…perhaps 1987 give or take a year - certainly well before the introduction of the World Wide Web.
Our head office had hundreds of people in the Toronto area, and numbers from coast to coast. One of my roles was to coordinate new software releases and when there were 100+ users spread across the country, logistics were a challenge. Over the years, the delivery model for applications has changed. Where before, it was necessary to physically mail out disks with new versions; with the introduction of email and the Internet, it was possible to download new versions.
Applications that reside in the cloud will not need explicit delivery for new versions; it's more a matter of the vendor needs to upload the appropriate changes to their website.
Larry Ellison of Oracle has a contrary opinion of cloud computing and his assertion is that “cloud computing” has been around for many years and this term and concept is simply the “in fashion” concept.
He may be right, but in my mind, the question isn’t about if cloud-computing is recent or not – if it’s in fashion or not – if it’s just simply a trend. For me, with technology, the proof is in the pudding. In other words, if more and more software vendors gravitate towards a cloud-computing software distribution model, I think this is a good thing at least in terms of the portability I mentioned previously.
The primary disadvantage I theorize about with cloud-computing is the software must be written keeping in mind the lowest common denominator with regards to the hardware and software installed on the local workstation. In other words, the vendor needs to take into consideration there is a myriad of hardware and software that would be used to run these applications in the cloud-computing world and as such, they may have to be careful to choose what functionality is to be added to their site. Upon further reflection, I guess this isn’t any different from the standard software delivery model of applications being installed on the client workstations.
One further note for consideration. When a software vendor offers a cloud-computing platform, they potentially have more control over their subscribers being able to access. Currently, one typically purchases the software and the related license when run locally. With cloud-computing, it is very possible, and perhaps more than likely, we will get hooked into a cloud-computing environment. Once we’ve made the commitment to the software in the cloud environment, what stops the vendor from starting to change this to a pay-as-you-go model as opposed to pay once....Food for thought.
As always, the technology tantalizes us, teases us and sometimes even delivers. Sometimes it’s just the shine and sometimes the technology has an evolutionary impact on how we use it. Which category cloud-computing will fit in, remains to be seen.
"Rick is a seasoned software developer with over 25 years of experience in designing and developing systems. In addition to the software development experience, he is also experienced in training users of various skills and assisting organizations in determining their information technology needs."
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