A few years ago, I would hear talk of “the cloud.” It would change the world. The cloud was a concept where your personal files were stored on the internet, at another location in the world, in order to be accessed from any computer that had an internet connection. For many people, the closest they’ve gotten to a “cloud computing” experience has been posting pictures on Facebook that you could view from a friend’s computer. But this is changing.
The cloud concept isn’t just being able to SEE files online, but to EDIT files online. This has been done most visibly with Google Docs. Google Docs allows you to open, edit and save your files into your own personal account online. You can also give permission for other people to view, or even edit, those files online WHILE you are accessing them. That means that if you are conferencing with them on the phone and decide to change anything in the file, they will be able to see your edits AS YOU DO THEM.
This has been hugely productive for organizations with employees spread across the country. But for people who use their computer for playing games, writing files or surfing the net, they have been largely left out of this “cloud computing concept.
Not anymore.
Last week, Google announced plans to release their Chrome OS (operating system). This will be an operating system, like Windows or Apple, that is based in the cloud. That means that you will, with any computer running this OS, be able to log into your OWN personal account (likely your Google Account) and the desktop, applications and files will be those that you have previously selected or worked on. If you bought a copy of Bejeweled 3, typed up your doctoral thesis and like that wallpaper of a kitten hanging from a tree, that is what will show up on that computer.
This is very helpful if you have more than one computer like a laptop, a desktop, a work computer or even smartphone. You won’t have to keep a flash drive with you at all times with the files you need to have. They will be stored on your online account. All those bookmarked websites on your browser: stored; your music: stored; your pictures: stored; all of this accessible from any computer.
Now, Google Chrome OS will not be available until next Summer, but I have been using a Cloud OS on my laptop that I think will be similar to what the Chrome OS will be like. It’s called Jolicloud and, while I don’t recommend you install the OS and go crazy without first knowing what you are doing, I recommend you check out the look of it. The main layout reminds me of the iPad, with program icons and organization tabs. It runs really well on my laptop and, maybe after more time playing with it, I’ll let you know my full thoughts.
In closing, I believe that “cloud computing” is here to stay and that you will be hearing more and more about it as time goes on; this is especially true with the release of Chrome OS next summer. I imagine that I could enjoy living in a world where I don’t need to carry cd's, dvds or flash drives in my bag.
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