Updated 26 May, 2012, 4:18 pm IST

Up In The Cloud

13 May, 2010, 5:15 pm IST | by Priyanka Tilve

Cloud computing

Up In The Cloud

My first brush with cloud computing was in the form of Google Docs. It’s a convenient tool for creating, sharing and editing documents. Every so often, when I am working on an article, I upload it to Google Docs to make it accessible at all times. All I need to do is make the changes I want, save it, and share it with anyone if I need their opinion on it. I just thought of it as a very convenient new way to go about my work even on a computer that does not have Microsoft Office installed on it. I didn’t know, or need to know, that there was anything revolutionary about what I was doing.

Cloud computing involves delivering a service over the Internet. Individuals and organizations can use their own private clouds. But we're interested in the public cloud, which is for users like you and me, with applications and storage available for free or by subscription.

These are now becoming popular due to the spread of sites like Facebook, Twitter and Orkut. You update your status or upload pictures, and they’re shared with everybody in your network. These sites are essentially applications that you can access from anywhere - one of the principles of cloud computing, and they are immensely popular, even if people never stop to think about it.�

The advantages are numerous. The most important one is that it gives you the liberty to access all your files from virtually anywhere! You’re no longer tied to your PC or even your laptop. It’s a blessing for people who have to share a computer. With all data stored in the cloud, it is away from other users’ prying eyes. What’s more, it eliminates the need to buy software or upgrades regularly. Storage is potentially unlimited, though most services make you pay beyond a certain amount. Last but not least, you don’t have to worry about losing data due to system crashes or virus attacks, as it's backed up in the cloud.

The cost of entry-level PCs goes down, as you don’t need much more than a basic machine and an Internet connection. Monthly subscriptions are easier to manage than the outright cost of new software. Another area of interest is mobile computing. With the advent of smartphones, mobile Internet access is almost taken for granted and you will find that many major programs have mobile versions as well. This presents the possibility of having all your data accessible on a device in your pocket.

Of course, there are limitations and one of the gravest concerns is that of privacy. As your data is stored with the service provider, they can monitor and have lawful or unlawful control over it. So you need to be careful about what sort of information you want to store in the cloud. Nevertheless, it’s a fascinating prospect.

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Our endeavor in a series of articles to come will be to find out how useable cloud computing actually is, and what actually can and can’t be done. Can the traditional PC be replaced altogether? I also look forward to your inputs and questions about cloud computing.