Get your head in the clouds
I got my first hotmail address in 1998 and I remember thinking how cool it was that I could access my email wherever I could get internet access. Well this convenience has now extended not only to email but to a range of applications such as word-processing, spreadsheets, image storage and presentations to name a few. It all comes under the umbrella of what is called cloud computing. What are the benefits of cloud computing?
- It enables people to collaborate on documents wherever they live. An example is Google Docs which is a very simple to use word-processor in which others can access the document via the net and suggest changes, add comments etc..
- Rather than needing tons of memory you can store movies, images or whatever on someone elses server. Well known examples of this is Youtube for movies and Flickr for images.
- Either free or reduced cost. As it is available on the net you don’t need to go out and spend big bucks getting the software. Also where a fee is applied it usually is scaled to usage rather than a flat fee.
- The software is kept upto date by someone else, which means you don’t need expensive tech staff to keep it all going.
- You can access it wherever there is an internet connection. And that includes checking in via mobile devices.
The number one challenge with cloud computing is the simple fact that your data goes outside the organisation, or outside your direct control. Most mature cloud computing companies make sure that your stuff is cared for, but still the risk remains. For a more detailed discussion of the risks click here. But also for a discussion on the security benefits click here.
One particular cloud product that has caught my eye is SlideRocket, a seriously cool online presentation tool that makes powerpoint look very stale. Check out the presentation below.
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3 Responses to “Get your head in the clouds”
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we use google docs all the time at work - often using the spreadsheet to track our projects, goals, etc. they also have the “form” function now, which we use so that our staff can register to use our trade show booth. - whenever they fill out the form, the data automatically populates in a google spreadsheet. works great!
SlideRocket looks wonderful. I would love to have time to play with it.
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