Cloud Computing

Thing 12 – The Cloud

Apple says we are living in a post-PC world. Google is introducing the ChromeBook. The trend is obvious – computing is moving to the ‘Cloud.’

About Information/Document Sharing

Effective collaboration and document sharing is one of the originating reasons behind the development of the network technologies that eventually led to the internet as we know it today. In the 1970′s, ARPANET connected several universities, allowing researchers and scientists to actively share information resources over great distances. The first and most important method birthed by these networks was the protocols allowing electronic mail.
These fundamental tasks that drove the early development and innovation of the larger internet itself have been streamlined and focused by years of technological advance. Large scale information sharing and editing capabilities are available to anyone with internet access, and for no extra cost in many cases.
The latest innovative approaches to fulfilling these information sharing needs include concepts like cloud computing and peer-to-peer file sharing. Cloud computing refers to the use of online applications which allow dynamic storage, use of, and editing of media without any need for the user to host, maintain, or store it themselves locally.
Peer-to-peer file-sharing allows large networks of users to share information autonomously as if they were hosted in a traditional server-client environment. Peer-to-peer file sharing and it’s offspring Bit torrent sharing are controversial due to the widespread use of these methods in information piracy.
Sharing documents and working on them collaboratively is a growing trend.

How does it Work?

Information/Document Sharing works in a variety of ways, depending on the types of information you wish to share and the manner in which you want to share it. Below, we’ve provided several examples of the different types of information/document sharing available on the web.

Online Document Collaboration

Google Documents (originally Writely): Google Docs mirrors many of the functions of traditional desktop applications like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint and combines them with the flexibility, sharing power, and portability of Gmail. To find out more about how Google Docs works, check out this informative video.
Zoho : Zoho is suite of powerful online office applications. In addition to offering traditional office applications like Zoho Writer (documents), Zoho Sheet (spreadsheets), Zoho Show (presentations), Zoho also provides tools for note taking, project management, online databases, and customizable wikis.
Writeboard : Writeboard is a standalone tool which allows you to create, share and collaborate on text-based documents. All you need is a valid e-mail address and an idea, and you’re ready to use Writeboard.

Online Document Sharing

Scribd : Scribd is a social publishing application, which allows you to publish your own documents to the web and search the submissions of others.
DocStoc : DocStoc, like Scribd, is an online social publishing application. DocStoc features include a large supply of document templates, and the ability to transfer large files free of charge.
edocr : Yet another document storage solution, edocr boasts excellent web2.0 compatibility, Google indexing, and contextual archiving.
Slideshare : As its name implies, Slideshare allows you to share your presentations with anyone in the world. With Slideshare you can add audio to your slides, embed your slideshows on your own personal blog or website, and join groups of other Slideshare members with similar interests.
OnStage : OnStage is a online application that provides document collaboration and project management tools. It features integration with other cloud computing tools like Scribd, and a healthy amount of security features.

Directory Sharing & Synchronizing

Box.net (BETA) : While this application is still in development, it mirrors much of the FTP-style sharing that makes Windows LiveSync so interesting without the any required hotmail/Windows Live account.
Windows LiveSync : A free application from Microsoft which allows users to sync and share files and directories between computers and users. Requires a Windows Live/Hotmail account.
Dropbox : Dropbox is a downloadable application which not only provides secure file backup, but also a simple way for synchronizing and sharing files across multiple computers. A free Dropbox account provides 2GB of space; additional storage requires a monthly fee.

http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/ackermann/2011/06/07/thing-12-the-cloud/