Blog #1: Cloud Computing

1. My understanding of cloud computing is that it basically provides a massive space for all internet services like Amazon, Yahoo, etc. to be available to the public. It eliminates the necessity to have a service specifically connected to each and every consumer but allows everyone to be able to go and utilize them at their own discretion.

2. The main benefit for someone accessing the cloud would be that they wouldn't have to go through the task of getting specific services connected to them at their residence or place of work. They can access the services they need anywhere and be held accountable for their use only. The disadvantage would be that the individual user would be held accountable for any content viewed or any other transactions under their account and since the cloud is so available someone could easily take advantage of that.

3. The benefit for a start-up company using cloud computing would be that they could target a vast amount of users all at once. They could also have a potentially lucrative business depending on their relevance and the demand for their product or service. However a disadvantage of a start-up company using the cloud could be that their particular service may be more susceptible to hacking and viruses. For example, Myspace gained a quick reputation for allowing people everywhere to network through a social forum but before long accounts were being hacked into, spam was being sent to more people's email boxes every week. Eventually Facebook came along offering a sleek interface and a great deal more security.

4. The social dangers of cloud computing are numerous. There are people set on uploading viruses as well as massive amounts of spam running rampant but the fact that nothing electronic or otherwise is completely reliable is also a valid argument. Having services available to the masses via the cloud adds to the fast paced instant gratification that our generation has become accustomed to but there are security dangers. One commonly known fact is that when you work on something on any computer you save it to your own personal collection so that you still have your work in the event of a crash of any kind. If some catastrophic meltdown of the internet and the cloud alike were to occur simply having your work saved elsewhere would be the quickest and most painless option.

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