What is Cloud-computing?

And why do we care? Well, go to Google and type in "cloud". When I did that at 1pm today, "cloud computing" was the first result at the top of the page. Fine and dandy, but what is it?
simple answer: http://www.ibm.com/ibm/cloud/

Premise: Computers suck (predicate statement, full stop).

Computers suck because they require software. Software that needs to be re-written, upgraded, patched, and most importantly, not be infected with bugs. And if you have several software programs that argue with each other- well, good luck will be needed. The solution IBM proposes (and Google has been interested in, as well) is that all the software is written and maintained with patches etc. elsewhere.

This may sound radical to some, but it's very similar to the practice most call centers follow with their phone systems. In Ye Olden Days, the phone numbers were routed through a PDX switchboard. This was very inconvenient, as the PDX could overload and shut down if too many calls came in and there wasn't sufficient lines or a ready mailbox. Call center IT departments and finance were forced to try and plan exactly for call volume and figure out how many employees needed to maintain the phone queue and answer the lines, and on top of this they needed to purchase equipment for needs that could change drastically.


Then along came VoIP. Voice over Internet Protocol currently can follow a model where each workstation in the center requires three things: A computer interface, a keyboard, and a phone that can pick up calls routed. No support structure, no giant boxes of cables or switchboard operators. All of the maintenance and support is done by the VoIP provider, who sets up the phone numbers to ring and be routed through their "cloud" on the internet. When a customer calls, the call is routed from the cloud, through their data-tracking, to the representative's phone. The managers can pull reports from access to the cloud, and there's no overhead related to IT. Easier tracking also means the company can better plan the number of reps needed to answer calls in a given season.

The point is, from what I understand "cloud computing" purports to be very similar, except companies like Google intend to also offer file storage. The files may be in your "interface", but you will need to be connected to get at them. Of course, hypothetically you could have files stored off-line elsewhere in case your account is hacked or something destroys your interface.

Now this may not be a bad premise for a steampunk story, if people are wondering how to apply modern ideas to their novel. Conceivably this is something that would appeal to the more sordid Victorian types. Imagine, if you will, a steampunk remake of An Ideal Husband. There are a lot of ways to twist it: I'll see if I can't reinvent the plot three or four ways to combine it with cloud computing. Watch for big Thursday post!!