cloud computing for translators (2015)

Cloud computing for translators

Marta StelmaszakJanuary 2015

Our plan for today

• What do we know about the cloud?• Definition(s) of cloud computing• Different types of cloud computing and services• Desires and expectations of the cloud• Survey results presentation• Challenges of the cloud• Discussion

About the speaker

• Polish – English translator and interpreter• Based in London• BA, PgCert in language-related disciplines• MSc in Management, Information Systems and Innovation• Training in marketing, e-business, economics• Certificate in business mentoring• Publications, presentations, articles• www.wantwords.co.uk/school• @mstelmaszak

http://www.wantwords.co.uk/school

What do we know about the cloud?

• Have you heard of cloud computing?

• Do you know what it is?• How do you understand it?• Can you name any cloud-based

applications?• Do you work with any cloud-based

applications?

Definition(s) of cloud computing

• Let’s go back in time…

Definition(s) of cloud computing

• Cloud computing is a recently evolved computing terminology or metaphor based on utility and consumption of computing resources. Cloud computing involves deploying groups of remote servers and software networks that allow centralized data storage and online access to computer services or resources. (Wikipedia)

• Cloud computing, often referred to as simply “the cloud,” is the delivery of on-demand computing resources—everything from applications to data centers—over the Internet on a pay-for-use basis. (IBM)

Types of the cloud

Types of deployment

Cloud desires

• Some researchers have identified a range of desires that users have in relation to cloud-based systems (Venters, Whitley, 2012).– Technological– Service

Cloud desires

• Technological desires– Equivalence: cloud service should be at least as good

(in terms of security and availability) as my local system– Variety: cloud service should give me a wider variety of

potential uses than local systems– Abstraction: cloud service should remove unnecessary

problems, complexities and issues – Scalability: cloud service should scale to meet my

business demands

Cloud desires

• Service desires– Efficiency: cloud service should help me be more

efficient, also in terms of money– Creativity: cloud service should spur my innovation

and creativity– Simplicity: cloud service should be simple to

understand and use

Survey results

• 100 respondents between September and November 2014• Backed up by Venters, Whitley, 2012 and Armburst 2010• Basic screening• Distributed online: social media, Yahoo groups

(translators)

Survey results: desires

• Technological desires


• Equivalence– ‘Equivalence, because I travel a lot and I need to access my files

anytime.’– ‘Equivalence: I want it to be reliable’


• Variety– ‘Variety; what I currently use allows me to collaborate on projects

that would otherwise be impossible’

Survey results: desires• Abstraction

• ‘Abstraction is particularly important when accessing your data from other computers e.g. in case of emergency or when travelling, which is also a benefit of having a cloud-based system. I first started using Dropbox when travelling and finding myself copying large numbers of file to and from my desktop and laptop or to USB drives and losing track of the latest versions of documents. For me, access from anywhere and having files I need to share between machines in one place are the most attractive features. Accounting services like FreeAgent often have different packages depending on company size or volume of invoices, etc. so they are scalable. Dropbox, Google Drive etc. allow you to purchase more storage and then to let it lapse if you no longer need it.’

• ‘Abstraction, because we have to face more and more complex tools already not to add another layer of complexity. If cloud technologies are to be used, they HAVE to be simplier than using local solutions.’

• ‘I want no downtime and no maintenance’• ‘I want it to be simpler than desktop applications.’


• Scalability– ‘Scalability, this item justifies using cloud-based tools and simplifies

my daily tasks’– ‘Scalability is top. There's no need to use any more resources than

are required to do the job.’


• Service desires

Survey results: desires• Efficiency

• ‘I want the Cloud to be as simple and efficient as possible.’• ‘Easy access from any device without needing software installed beyond

a browser is something I expect, which does let you be more efficient when working with more than one device.’

• ‘I'm only interested in efficiency. Why? I'm culturally a German when it comes to business. It just needs to do its job. I don't use cloud services for anything for the hell of it and need to have control over what they do.’

• ‘Efficiency, because I used Cloud tools to save time spent on data exchange with clients/partners. Simplicity is connected with efficiency - if the tools is simple, I don't have to waste time explaining how it works to other users.’

• ‘I am already good at what I do. I need to be efficient to get the most of my abilities.’


• Creativity– ?


• Simplicity– ‘Simplicity is key, as it drives efficiency in the first place through the

learning curve.’– ‘Simplicity is more of a priority to me than efficiency. If a service is

difficult to use, I would turn to search another one which is simplier to use and understand, even though the more difficult one to use could help me be more efficient in terms of money’

Survey results: tools used

• Data storage or file exchange• Email, voice or video communication• Project management, planning and organisation• Resource or relationship management• Finance


• Data storage or file exchange– Dropbox– MemSource– Google Drive– Google Docs– Mediafire– Minus– Amazon Cloud Drive– Wetransfer– SendSpace– One Drive


• Data storage or file exchange– SpiderOak– Zen Vault– Kilgray Language Terminal– Sugar Sync– DocMaster– Hihtail– Comodo Cloud– iCloud– Word– Wuala– Carbonite


• Data storage or file exchange– Evernote– Microsoft Azure– Yousendit– Picasa


• Email, voice or video communication– Yahoo– Gmail– MemSource– Lync– Skype (partly cloud-based)– Zoho Mail– Hotmail– Mailinator– Mail.com– Outlook Web Access


• Email, voice or video communication– Gotomeeting– Whatsapp– Messaging via Facebook– Twitter– Gchat– Viber– Google+


• Project management, planning and organisation– MemSource– Apple iCal– Redbooth– Symphonical– Gantter– Google Apps– Google Drive– Evernote– Social pm– Wunderlist


• Project management, planning and organisation– Google Calendar– Microsoft Sharepoint– Podio– TeamworkPM– Doit.im– Language Terminal– XTRF– MemoQ Project Sharing– Trello– Visual Studio Online


• Project management, planning and organisation– Remember the Milk– Asana


• Resource or relationship management– MemSource– Google Drive– Facebook– LinkedIn– Twitter– Google+– Google Apps– Wordpress– Google Contacts– Yesware


• Resource or relationship management– Sellsy CRM– Scoopit– Evernote– Google apps for business– Pocket– Hootsuite– Buffer– Pinterest– Capsule – None


• Finance– MemSource– FreeAgent– Mint.com– Crunch– Siwapp– Emedia.org– Fastbill– Sellsy CRM– QuickBooks Essential– Proz..com for invoicing, Paypal for payments


• Finance– Spreadsheets in Google Drive– XTRF– Homemoney– ‘Would never use cloud-based tools for finance’– Xero– Ciel Software– Wave– Bank account through an iPhone app

Survey results: fears and concerns

• Security is the main concern. Data is stored online, often in countries or by businesses with different data protection rules. I do not use cloud storage for any client material, and several clients have asked me not to use Dropbox or Skype, or even have the latter installed on my work PC.

• I sometimes worry about how secure data is, but having it backed up somewhere else (e.g., on my computer) makes me feel okay about it.

• Privacy above all. NSA scandal just pinpointed the privacy issue, but corporation not eager to respect privacy make the professional fear for data confidentiality for his/her own clients and his/her own strategic data.

• The usual: security and confidentiality issues. Plus unreliable broadband/Wi-Fi. I made the mistake of buying a Chromebook: it's virtually unusable when your Wi-Fi cuts out, as it does when travelling, even on transport services which allegedly have an onboard Wi-Fi service.


• Concerned about how many places my data is stored - distributed security problem. Hard to centralise because different clients want to collaborate on different platforms.

• The law. In Germany, all customer/client data must be stored on computers in the EU, and arguably within Germany. It states you must be able to physically inspect the storage of all records. This is a huge concern for cloud computing here. I also agree with the idea behind the law and keeping things within German jurisdiction - look at all the stuff happening in the US right now.

• Security aspects; confidentiality aspects (NDA)


• Privacy concerns. Many of my clients require me to sign NDAs explictly forbidding the use of cloud services due to the nature of the work (patents, other proprietary information). Another, secondary reason is that sometimes I like to work "unplugged". Which is why I personally prefer local resources.

• Concerns: security issues as recently reported in the news about hackers stealing passwords and files. What stops me from using the cloud: payment for services. I stick to the basic, free plans/storage capacity.

• Mainly data security. Most of the content of translations, and also of translation memories, is confidential, and I don't want to risk that anybody can hack into my storage and steal data/files/information.

• Confidentiality issues re. data storage. Some clients specifically prohibit cloud storage. System failures: when Google is down, I have no main email/calendar (you must have a backup).


• Usability issues due to relatively slow internet connection speeds for those who do not live in big cities. If internet is down, even for a few minutes, then the cloud service is, too, and that could cause real business-continuity problems.

• I have a house in the Highlands of Scotland which has virtually no internet or mobile telephone access. Until cloud access is truly universal, it can only be used to complement local solutions, not to replace them.

• I have a poor Internet connection and don't want things "stuck" online if I have an outage. I rarely work when on the move (home office = work, travel = "me" time) so don't need it. Prefer to have my important data on my own external HD than in a cloud I have no control over. Mainly, I am happy with what I have so see no need to spend time looking for something else. If a cloud solution comes to my attention I will examine it and use it if it suits me (e.g. Dropbox for large file transfer) .


• I must confess that, even though, on the one hand services on the cloud are really useful as you can access the information from everywhere--as long as you have an internet terminal (PC, laptop or smartphone)--on the other hand, I find that relying on intangible devices is still a bit risky for me. Maybe I'm such a ludite, actually, I still use a "normal" agenda made of paper and I don't have a smartphone (yet). I also find tiring the fact of having to sign in most of the services, passwords for everything, fees in some cases, and having your eyes stuck to the screen all day. Nevertheless, I will start to get into some of those cloud-based resourses, as I found a few of them quite useful (Feedly, Audible, Pocket...)


• Honestly, I use it fearlessly. It is so convenient.

Challenges of the cloud

• Business continuity and server availability• Data lock-in• Data confidentiality• Data transfer bottlenecks• Performance unpredictability• Storage scalability• Bugs in large-scale distributed systems• Scaling quickly• Reputation fate sharing• Software licensing

Discussion

Marta Stelmaszakwww.wantwords.co.uk

[email protected]@mstelmaszak

http://www.wantwords.co.uk/

mailto:[email protected]

cloud computing for translators (2015)

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