Cloud computing and information
Jinfo Blog

31st July 2009

By Udo Hohlfeld

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In 1965 the Rolling Stones sang Get Off of My Cloud - how times are a-changing as nowadays companies such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, IBM and many more all want us to be on their cloud. Currently, 'Cloud Computing' is a very popular phrase. And yes, it will last - cloud computing is far from being a one hit wonder. This technology and the capabilities it offers affect and will affect our work as information professionals as it will affect our private or social activities. Shortly, cloud computing will mean users havingaccess to powerful and scalable applications from any device that is connected to the internet. Eventually, cloud computing will pushes the development and usage of pervasive clients such as mobiles, smartphones, PDAs, Tablet PCs or even games consoles. Pervasive computing (aka ubiquitous computing) means the ubiquity of information processing - so welcome to the Post-PC Age [1]. The devices we use are becoming smaller and smaller, running relatively complex information appliances. Maybe in the future the devices will disappear altogether and integrate into common things like clocks, maps or clothing. We have all already been living for some time in the Information Age and dealing with an ever increasing amount of information. In the past it was particularly historic and static information; nowadays it's increasingly real-time information that we have to deal with. Technology helps us to access and manage the space of information and data. Cloud computing advances this development by enabling always-on 24/7 access to stored data. Business intelligence software seeks to analyze data masses and provide real-time results to pervasive clients. Avoiding drowning in the information flood depends on ourselves and on what we do with it. In the end, it will still be we who have to consume and make sense from it. We have to determine how to use the available resources in such a way that they fit our information needs. According to analysts, cloud computing is established technology that has moved beyond the 'tipping point'. It is even top of mind for the United States Government. Consumers have already adopted cloud computing through their extensive usage of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Flickr. In the end, as with every technology, cloud computing will impact deeply on how we deal with information and how we work; it is the commoditization of information. Sources: [1] Weiser M. 'The computer for the 21st century'. Scientific American 0971991 pp 66-75. Resources: Amazon Web Services - http://aws.amazon.com Google - http://appengine.google.com Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com/azure IBM - http://digbig.com/5badcj

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