On various fronts in the world of IT, people are hard at work creating "the Internet of the future". That cumbersome box that hums away under your desk could soon be consigned to the scrap heap. All you will need is a monitor, a keyboard and a "smart socket".
In the near future, Internet and computer use will be reminiscent of the good old days of "distribution radio". Even home software giant Microsoft has fallen for "cloud computing" and is working on its own version. The consumer benefits are undeniable: using the computer will be cheaper and use less energy than ever before.
Cloud computing is not a new phenomenon, but it does appear to be a concept whose time has come. In essence, what it entails is that Internet will supply the end user with much more than just information alone. Fully fledged programs and operating systems will also be available online.
Dumb terminal
It's all about the Internet and everything that comes with it. Your every IT need will be provided centrally in the same way as gas and electricity are supplied to households at present. ICT expert Stefan Greve explains:
"What actually happens is that you have a "dumb" terminal at home and everything - and I mean everything - you need to use the computer is pumped through it. Of course, you need a fast connection to achieve this, and nowadays that is the province of the Internet.
This rapid connection establishes contact between the simple piece of equipment at home and a relatively small number of powerful computers which, in theory, could be located anywhere in the world. Subscribers can make use of this service without having to purchase and install all kinds of software.
A basic requirement is that the user has a fibre-optic connection. That is the only type of cable technology that can transport enough data to ensure that the computer does not operate at an unacceptably slow pace."
Trend
As well as being an interesting prospect for the consumer market, Cloud Computing is really taking off in the business community. Companies currently face the burden of having to shell out large amounts of money for all kinds of new software and hardware every few years. If all they have to purchase in future is a simple terminal, that will not only make things cheaper but it will also have a longer lifespan.
But where did the "cloud" concept come from? As Stefan Greve explains, the name is not as fanciful as it seems:
"You can see the Internet as a great big cloud, a cloud of computers which are linked to each other. That's where the term "cloud" comes from. You are absorbed into the cloud, as it were."
Multiple benefits
The new development will bring more consumer benefits than simply getting rid of the big box under the desk. Using a large central computer means that maintenance and security will be a good deal simpler and therefore cheaper. There will be no more wrestling with continual virus scanner updates and the like. Such provisions will simply be part of your subscription. And, as Stefan Greve points out, there are also environmental advantages:
 IT specialist Stefan Greve |
"The majority of home computers blow hot air. Most of the energy they need to keep them running disappears into thin air as heat. "Cloud Computing" through a central computer means you use less electricity in the home, so it cuts down your household expenses into the bargain."
Drawback
There is one big potential drawback for the individual user at home. If the Internet connection is down, for example if your own provider is swamped with traffic, then everything will grind to a halt. Not only will you be unable to surf the Internet, but you won't be able to use your computer at all. For wholesale users such as companies, which usually have multiple Internet access for security reasons, this will be less of an issue.
Cloud nine?
Microsoft earns millions from the sale of operating systems and has traditionally sought to play down the cloud phenomenon. For a long time, the software giant's company line was that it would take a good while for this new development to reach fruition.
But last week, CEO Steve Ballmer announced that his company would be launching Windows Cloud within a month.
In a matter of years, we could all find ourselves sitting on the same cloud. Whether it's cloud nine remains to be seen.
*RNW translation (dd)
Tags: internet, privacy, software, Stefan Greve