Are we ready for the Cloud?

Each of us has experienced cloud computing in some ways. If not, but I guess most of us have used a web-based email service like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail. That's one example of cloud computing. The software and storage for your account doesn't exist on your computer -- it's on the service's computer cloud.

So what's all the fuzz in cloud computing? For companies, buying computers and purchasing software licenses is not enough. At some point, they need to upgrade their computers and eventually upgrade their software as well.  It’s a never ending cycle.

Now what’s the difference if they’re going to use cloud computing? So instead of installing a suite of software to each of the computer, you only have to load one application. That application is a web-based service which hosts all the programs the user needs to do his or her job. The web-based service is being run by remote machines maintained by another company.

How about the consumer? There’s a lot of products out there that takes advantage of cloud computing. One of them is Google’sChromebook. Basically it’s a netbook/notebook but all the applications are available on the web. Another good example is Apple’s iCloud service. With this service, you can access your music, photos, documents and so much more from all of your Apple devices. It will be available when they release the iOS 5.

 

One thing that concerns me about cloud computing is the internet connection. If you don’t have a fast and reliable internet provider, then these services are useless. Let’s not forget the affordability as well. Here in the Philippines, I doubt if it’ll work. Internet services are still expensive. And the connection is not that reliable as well.

So are we ready for the Cloud? Maybe not for now, but we will definitely go there. Meanwhile let’s watch this inspiring video from Corning. This is what defines cloud computing in the near future.

Learn how Cloud Computing works here.