Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is an emerging and extremely innovative technology that will most likely revolutionize the computing world. It allows users to access documents, email, applications, and various other files through the Internet and not necessarily from their localized computers. This grants users the ability to not only access but also share files as well as other resources such as software products with others who are computing on the same network.
Contents
What is Cloud Computing
Intro
When companies hire new employees they must install various software packages onto their computers. This usually is a long and tiresome process because many of these packages require certain product licensing numbers. However with cloud computing they can establish an internal network where they can simply access these required programs with ease because they are stored online in the cloud network. This is quicker and easier than manually downloading them onto each specific computer.
Characteristics
Flexible
This users and/or companies can determine how much space they want to store on their network. The amount of space consumed ranges on the user’s needs.
User Friendly
Users can oversee services and have them automatically updated to accommodate their storage, processing, and software needs.
Reasonable
Users are only billed for the resources they use such as space consumed and processing capability.
Dynamics
Benefits
Convenience
Apple recently announced that as of October 12, 2011 that their iCloud will be available to users thus making it easier to manage data across a variety of their products such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. When a change is made on one of these devices it is automatically made on the others as well. Cloud services provide these conveniences for users.
Ethical Implications
There are many ethical concerns with the development of new and revolution technologies such as cloud computing. One of the largest concerns deals with the illegal exchange and sharing of information (see Digital Piracy) between users on the same cloud interface. This issue is hotly debated and difficult to resolve due to various copyright and licensing regulations. Cloud computing presents users with ethical dilemmas about whether or not to illegal gain access to certain materials whether it be media files, movies, or software.
