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Cloud computingAn introduction

Matthew “Buzzy” NielsenAssistant Director, North Bend Public Library

10/01/2010

You've got a computer

And you can do stuff on them

Edit photos

Write documents

Manage your calendar

And normally that stuffis stored on your computer

But what if you want to accessthat info on a different computer?

Or a completely different device?

Mobile phone

Photo source: "computer updating" by Per Ola Wiberg on Flickr

Or have some friendshelp you with them?

Enter Cloud Computing

Cloud computing:Accessing computer services, files, or information via the Internet or a network rather than your individual computer.

The Internet is a network of computers talking to each other

Image source: Sam Johnson, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cloud_computing.svg

By relying on “The Cloud,” youare relying on that network

Example of Cloud Computing:Web-based office programs

Typing a letter, on your computer

Or on the Internet

You can edit documents similar to using a word

processor on your computer.

http://docs.google.com

Your friends can also help out

Create spreadsheets and presentations, too!

There's even some surprising functionality, like separate worksheets

You can even edit photos!http://picnik.com

Demonstration:Editing a photo on picnik.com

Cloud Computing, pros & cons

Advantage #1:Available from any computer with Web access

Disadvantage #1:Dependent on internet access (usually)

Not dialup-friendly (usually)

Other Cloud-based office programs

OfficeLive (office applications)http://officelive.com

Phixr (photo editor)http://phixr.com

PhotoShop Express (photo editor)http://www.photoshop.com/tools

Example of Cloud Computing:Online document storage/backup

Backup important files to the Webhttp://dropbox.com

And do so automatically!

Tell Dropbox what to backup

And back them up online

Even accessible on the go

Dropbox can be accessed on mobilephones and any computer with Web access.

Demonstration:Uploading a file to Dropbox

Cloud Computing, pros & cons

Advantage #2:You can backup files and information to a more reliable place than just your personal computer

Disadvantage #2:You lose some degree of control, meaning that

the security of your files depends on thesecurity of the service you're using

Other Cloud-based backup programs

FilesAnywherehttp://filesanywhere.com

Mozyhttp://mozy.com

Example of Cloud Computing:Data managers

Calendaring across devices

Enter an event in the calendar application on your home computer.

(Example here: Sunbird)

Calendaring across devices

It gets “synced” to an online service(Example here: Google Calendar)

Calendaring across devices

And you can view it on other devices, like mobile phones(Example here: Android calendaring app)

Demonstration:Adding and syncing a contact

Lots of alternatives

MobileMe: A popular paid alternative for Macs

http://apple.com/mobileme

Many types of data can be synced

Cloud Computing, pros & cons

Advantage #3:Portability – You can access your data across

multiple applications and devices

Disadvantage #3:Privacy – Companies can monitor your information

for business-related purposes (e.g. advertising)

Other Cloud-based services:Antivirus

Cloud antivirus pulls virus protection files dynamically from the Web, rather than storing them on your computer

The gist:Cloud computing gives you an incredible amount

of flexibility of your information by sacrificing some degree of control over it.

Questions?

OpenOfficeImpress

Presentation program

GIMPImage editor

This presentation was made using open source software.

View this presentation on slideshare:http://www.slideshare.net/nbpl/cloud-computing-5333661

AndroidMobilephone

operating system

ChromeWeb browser