Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a relatively new phenomenon that allows users to store and use data online – in the cloud – rather than on their own hardware. There are hundreds and hundreds of web applications that can replace the vast majority of software installed on individual machines. Cloud computing creates a more centralized system of data storage and retrieval, which allows the same operations to be performed on less powerful – but more portable – devices than ever before. As always, there are certain risks to putting any personal information online, and consideration must be given to the privacy, security, and accessibility of data in cloud computing.

"It turns out that about 95 percent of what I do on a computer can now be accomplished through a browser. I use it for updating Twitter and Facebook and for blogging. Meebo.com lets me log into several instant-messaging accounts simultaneously. Last.fm gives me tunes, and webmail does the email. I use Google Docs for word processing, and if I need to record video, I can do it directly from webcam to YouTube."

-- Clive Thompson, Wired Magazine

This page © Stacy Taylor. Created Oct. 9, 2009. Last modified Oct. 24, 2009. Contact me: taylstac@my.dom.edu