I would like to zoom in on one particular topic : Cloud Computing.
When we discussed this, it struck me hard that it is everywhere. It is announced by apple to be the next big thing in the iOS5, where personalisation and other information may be saved in an online database, without the need for iTunes syncing with from the device to the computer.
Many people marveled at it's capabilities. Comments about the marvellous cloud computing sprang up after the Apple WWDC (WorldWide Developer's Conference).
Wait a minute, did they not realise that Cloud Computing is all around us?
The most native form of cloud computing could be illustrated with e-mails or even web hosting. If information is not stored in your computer but accessible anytime on-demand, that is cloud computing!
Cloud computing is also related to cost savings, which firms and consumers would take a liking to that very attribute. Cost of physical storage (Hard disk) over portability may not be as attractive as Storage on clod computing. Simply said, you save more and it's more portable and convenient. Good deal isn't it?
Talk about cost saving, i remember in 2007 i read this article about OLPC (One Laptop Per Child). It's mission is to provide every child with a laptop, providing low cost computing to needy people especially in the poorer countries. I was looking at the article, sub-$100 laptops? No WAY! How on earth you can make a laptop so cheap when a typical motherboard would cost that much? I read on and realised cloud computing was used in this project.
Belowis the picture of an OLPC computer.
Looks like one that you can get from Toys R Us isnt it?
Anyway, one of the reason why they can make it so cheap is because they make use of cloud computing! They forgo physical storage as it cost a lot, they have 5GB to ensure that it is just enough for a modified windows XP to run onn the machine, and let cloud computing to do the rest.
Word processing? My personal Microsoft Office comes in a DVD, a whopping 4.7GB storage, coupled with my Windows XP which is about 3GB, how is that sufficient on the 5GB OLPC computer? Cloud computing saves the day! Word processing is done by google documents. They use cloudo, which is a web-based application which pack myriad of features! One of them is a music player.
Ever wonder what is the turning knob for? It is actually using kinetic to generate electricity for the computer in case of a lack of power supply. In rural areas there may not be any electricity sources available so that knob is quite an useful feature i would say!
Many people criticised the failure of the OLPC computer, citing reasons like poor maintenance and support for the computer. Software problem could easily be solved by flashing the OS, but hardware maintenance would prove costly to those really in need and such technical expertise may be difficult to source for in the less developed countries too. The producer would face a big challenge to cut cost, and at the same time provide an extensive support to a big geographical area.
I rate the session an 8/10, because i could better see how ICT changed the world and to relate to my own life. I did an individual presentation which i felt I could had done better.
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