Cloud computing

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Introduction

See also Social media glossary, Social media landscape and Web 2.0

"Cloud computing" is a term that refers to web-based computing. Instead of storing files on your desktop or doing task-oriented activities on your office computer, all of this is done "out there....in the cloud". In other words, rather than storing data on your desktop and working with it there, data is stored on the open web using a web-based service and platform. Cloud computing also refers to the use of social media services such as Flickr, Google Docs and Facebook for functions done previously on our PCs.

Cloud computing is compared to grid computing where a virtual network exists to handle high-demand tasks and storage. By reducing the burden on individual servers, cloud computing helps organizations to offer increased online presence while minimizing storage costs (e.g. Foster 2008; 2009 & 2010 Horizon Report). Cloud computing forms the foundation and structure of social media where companies such as Amazon and Google harness technology while other organizations (both for profit and non-profit) take advantage of 'online storage' and tools such as Slideshare, GoogleDocs or wikis (DeMauro 2010 ;Gilmore 2008; 2009 & 2010 Horizon Report; Social Media Marketing 2008). Cloud computing is ideally operated in a 24/7 environment with information available for storage and retrieval in real-time (on demand). Such systems are under development and refinement; cloud computing also asks users to trust in their stability and security (e.g. 2009 & 2010 Horizon Report; various contributors, Wikipedia; etc..).

See Mell P, Grance T. NIST Definition of Cloud Computing. National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, 2011.

Examples of cloud computing

1. Microsoft Azure Platform: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/windowsazure/
2. Google’s Gov Cloud – a community cloud: https://apps.gov/cloud/advantage/main/start_page.do
3. IBM Cloud Computing – internal cloud: http://www.ibm.com/ibm/cloud/
4. GoogleDocs

Why is cloud computing important?

The term "cloud computing" has been bandied about in the media and discussed frequently at IT and educational conferences. There is a lack of consensus on exactly what it means and educational institutions have a vested interest in terms its application and implementation. What exactly does the term mean? What will the implications be to move to the cloud platform? What about security? If the growth of social media and online tools is any indication, we believe that cloud computing figures into the future of institutions and will enable operations and initiatives that would be impossible under storage-constrained systems. We have seen the impact of cloud computing and the role it plays in the development of web 2.0. To understand cloud computing it might be useful to look to web 3.0 and beyond.

References

• Social Networking and Cloud-Based Collaboration Tools. Social Media Marketing http://www.socialmediamarketinguk.com/category/cloud-computing
• Foster Ian. Cloud computing and grid computing 360-degree compared. IEEE Grid Computing Environment. http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0901/0901.0131.pdf
• Hartig K. What is cloud computing? The cloud is a visualization of resources that maintains and manages itself. Cloud Computing Journal. http://cloudcomputing.sys-con.com/node/579826
• Gilmore S. The intersection of social media and the cloud. TechCrunchIt. http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/29/the-intersection-of-social-media-and-the-cloud/
• Cloud computing. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing
• DiMauro V. Social media and cloud computing: a call to action for IT Leaders. Customer Think. http://www.customerthink.com/blog/social_media_and_cloud_computing_a_call_to_action_for_it_leaders

See also

• Answering health and medical reference questions
• CAPHIS | Top 100 Health Websites You Can Trust
• Consumer health information
• Multilingual resources for patients
• Patient education
• Top 100 Canadian Health Websites
• Top Ten (10) Canadian Health Websites 2010
• Top Social Media Websites in Medicine - 2012
• WikiPatient

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