Resource Review #2 The Web as the Ubiquitous Computer by Vishnu Pendyala and Simon Shim

Vishnu S. Pendyala and Simon S.Y. Shim. "The Web as the Ubiquitous Computer." Computer 42.9 (2009): 90 -92.

This article explains cloud computing in the context of societal trends to explain why it is so popular. It particularly explores how the use of mobile devices have influenced the development cloud computing. Mobility of technology has become increasingly important in our lives, and cloud computing is in some ways the perfect match. Pendyala and Shim delve into the specific advantages and challenges cloud computing presents, both in the short and long term.

The link the article made between the technology of cloud computing and our demand for increasingly smaller and connected mobile devices made a lot of sense to me. Cloud computing is a perfect match for our small mobile devices with a short battery life. It makes software on demand possible, meaning you only pay for what you use, like a utility. It allows for lowered cost and simplified maintenance of mobile devices because the devices themselves no longer have to contain within them the space to store the software, they only need the ability to communicate with the server. As the article points out, this leads to huge cost savings for basically everyone involved and greater accessibility.

In exploring the downside to cloud computing, I like how Pendyala and Shim touch on more than just the security aspect of it. While security concerns are an issue they mention, they offer up ideas on how cloud computing technology could leave us dependent on service providers. They point out that it would be easy for a provider to change its terms or go out of business; leaving customers without the data and applications they need. I believe this article is an important contribution to the cloud computing dialogue.

Resource Review #1 Cloud Computing by Brian Hayes

Brian Hayes. "Cloud Computing." Communications of the ACM 51.7 (2008): 9-11.

In his article, Hayes frames cloud computing in the context of computer history. He mentions its similarities to time-sharing systems decades ago and speculates on its technological and social role in the future. He also explores the positive and negative effects of computing in the cloud.

I really like how Hayes views cloud computing in a big-picture perspective for this article. In writing about digital tools, it is quite easy to only focus on the technological aspect of that particular tool. Hayes takes into account the technology, but also the historical, political, and social issues surrounding it. I found that this perspective helped his writing to be more accessible to me, the reader. I am still new to my topic, and this article was one of the first cloud computing articles I stumbled across. Instead of beginning with digital mumbo-jumbo, Hayes' first sentence actually references a Greek myth. Hayes' style of first describing this digital tool in its historical and cultural place and then easing into the technological aspects of cloud computing helped me to feel much less overwhelmed.

Instead of applauding cloud computing as the newest man-made wonder of our time, as I found in other articles, Hayes refers to this phenomenon as "the second coming of cloud computing". He believes that at its root it is a new look for a trend that has occurred before. This idea takes the edge off both the glamour and the uncertainty of cloud computing. I personally found it comforting to have cloud computing placed in its proper historical perspective instead of in an obscure technological league of its own.

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