Week 15 readings

1)Cloud Computing
   -SaaS- delivers a single application through the browser to thousands of customers such as Google apps
   -Utility computing-third party storage over a network or "off-site" such as Amazon
   -Web service in the cloud-active application over the internet that do not require embedded applications such as Google maps
   -platform as a service-You build your own applications that run on the provider's infrastructure and are delivered to your users via the Internet from the provider's servers
   -Managed service providers-kind of an in house applications just for the IT guys, the end user never sees it even though it might affect them, such as spam filters
   -Service Commerce Platforms- ok, I still don't really understand this one
   -Internet Integration- Once the goal to create a platform that would connect clouds, but never really achieved it's goal or potential

1)Video:Explaining Cloud Computing
The potential for cloud computer seems emmence.  A cheap alternative to smaller entities to store their data.  It seems exotic to be able to say well I'm storing my book collection at Amazon in the cloud, or I keep all my research paper on Google docs.  But there are two interesting counterpoints.  One, it relates back to last weeks articles.  Cloud computing is the ultimate end result of my trading privacy for convenience.  My books at Amazon or my documents at Google Docs can be views by anyone,  kept track by the vender and hacked into by an eighth grader (ok, maybe not an eight grader, but you get the point).  Yet the second point is that could computing in the first real swipe on the market control of Microsoft and other big computer software companies.   No longer do companies and individual need to pay hundred dollar plus licensing fees for data storage and software packages. Google, Apple does it for us.  Sure Microsoft has a cloud too, but they'd rather you still by Office from them.

3)Thomas Frey
Ok, I admit, I am a bit tired by the time I got to this article.  But it made to think of how Voyager categorizing system now has a cloud capability.  Now there is the library of the future. Perhaps Frey is right and the printed work will be irrelevant in 100 years.  Perhaps St. John was right and the end of the world is really coming.  Frey is all speculation with out hope or compromising.  But faith and skepticism in both mankind and in technology is important in these halcyon days of information.  Not just how we approach technology but how we the librarians and information scientist teach the next generation about technology and information is what will make Frey's predictions good or disappointing.  The technology world will keep moving forwards whether we like it or not, but teaching the young to use it cautiously and wisely is the key to technology being a betterment to society at large.  Ok, enough about Frey - time for bed! 
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