There have been several huge paradigm shifts that changed the way we use computers. Following the shift from mainframe to client-server in the eighties, cloud computing is the next big thing.
Rather than having all the information in one place, in a room full of computers in a brick building downtown, you can be anywhere and still access your data over the internet. Like the electricity grid, the information flows to you instead of you going to it.
The term cloud comes from the traditional drawing used to represent the telephone network. It refers to the internet, where you can reach in and pull out the data you need. The user doesn't need to know exactly how it works, just that, like the internet, it magically does
The clouds serve as access points for all the users end needs. Software, data, communication: based on the client-server model, all are available within the cloud.
The end user doesn't need to own the infrastructure, lowering the initial capital expense. Modeled on traditional utility services, like electricity, users are charged on how much they consume. Sometimes users are billed on a subscription basis, more like a magazine.
The new technology is possible because of increased bandwidth availability, making the information on a server many miles away as easily accessible as if it was coming from the basement. In addition, servers are rarely left idle. One effect of this approach is an overall rise in computer usage.
The economics work for both the user and the provider. They both save money by sharing a common resource. End users avoid spending money on infrastructure, while providers spread the cost of that infrastructure out amongst many users.
Many large companies have switched to the new paradigm, including major players like Amazon and Google. The association with utilities, like electricity and telephones, is hard to avoid. Both systems were key in the development of the new technology.
A side effect has been that computers can be much smaller and more agile, with less need for large storage space. The software and data are delivered on demand, rather than stored on site. Another benefit comes from working in groups. The project stays in one place, on a central server, and workers can access it from anywhere.
Cloud computing is storming the world. Pretty soon, every reality will become a virtual one. Prepare your company for the future, because the future is now.
