cloud computing charts for CS 297

Here are the charts for my second presentation for our CS297 class. It's about cloud computing.
The article can be read from: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19785

Cloud computing is basically performing all "computing" from a remote server through the Internet (it's not uncommon to use a cloud to represent the Internet in diagrams). It's not a very new technology but there is a trend to lean towards this type of computing architecture. A common example of computation done in the cloud is our mail applications. When we access our e-mails, we don't really use applications running on our PCs. Instead, we use the "mail application" in the browser that enables us to access our e-mails through our browsers. And not so very recently, Google released Google Docs, where you can use spreadsheets and word processing applications similar to Microsoft Office. In this type of architecture, all that you'll need in your PCs is an interface to the cloud, which is currently our web browsers.

This kind of architecture, when fully embraced, has several stakeholders:

1. Software development companies
In previous models, Software is sold as a product (software in a box). However with cloud computing, since all applications reside in web servers, selling software as a service is a more viable model, whether it be pay-per-use or a on monthly/yearly rental basis. Having the applications reside in the cloud also presents a challenge to the current model for making revenues. Google for instance allows users to use Google maps, docs, etc. without charging anything from the users. Software developers should look at generating profit from advertising, which is currently the biggest source of income in the web. This then leads to challenges in improving ad targeting algorithms and similar technologies to generate high revenue from ads.

There are discussions that the operating system may be put on the cloud. This is obviously far-fetched but it seems possible. And when this happens, Microsoft will be out of business. I think Microsoft is realizing now that they are being left behind in online services/applications that's why they want to buy Yahoo! They spent a lot of effort on developing Vista, which I think happens to be a disaster due to its performance requirements (I noticed it's very slow).

2. Hardware development companies
With a full cloud computing architecture, memory requirements, HDD requirements will be minimal on the client side. However, on the server side, since much of the computing load will be performed by the servers, the processing and memory requirements will be very high. This will lower the sales of consumer HDD, memory and processor manufacturers, while high end, server-capable computers and parts will notice a huge demand for their products. Technologies such as Cluster computing and Grid computing will receive more attention since they provide lower costs than Super Computers, while still achieving the same computational capability.

3. Internet service providers
Cloud computing will increase the demand for fast and reliable Internet connections.

4. Network infrastructure companies
Network infrastructure companies such as Cisco stocks will get higher due to increased demands on their products.

5. Consumers
With Google implementing a free service to users, other companies that will be offering software as a service and hardware as a service, will be in extreme pressure to provide their services for free and generate income from other sources such as web advertising.

6. Start-ups
There are a lot of aspects of cloud computing that can be explored and be turned into a business.

Of course there are barriers to the deployment of a full cloud computing architecture, some of which are:

1. Privacy of data stored in servers
2. Reliability and speed of network connection