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.