Cloud computing is a hot item right now, but if you ask some IT professionals it’s just a meaningless buzzword. Consumer evidence suggests otherwise, however: more and more, people are using cloud-based solutions during the course of their day-to-day living.
While you might not realize it, cloud computing is part of a bigger picture movement that’s placing less emphasis on computers per se, and more emphasis on convenient and accessible ways to retrieve and manipulate our data on a daily basis.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most common uses for cloud services today:
- Email. The oldest implementation of cloud services is probably also still the most widely used. We’re talking about hosted email services, such as Hotmail or Gmail. The days when most of us received our email addresses as part of our ISP service are long gone; in terms of personal email, cloud services are king.
- Online storage. In the past year or so, online storage solutions have gained some serious steam. Services like Dropbox let you have a certain amount of space on their servers to keep your files – often for free. (Of course, they charge a premium if you want to use more space.) Teams are using online storage for collaboration, people are allowing access to files via these services, and even Apple is getting into the act with iCloud.
- Financial services. There are a number of companies that offer online financial services. Mint.com, for example, is a cloud-based way for you to manage your checkbook. QuickBooks Online offers a similar service for businesses. By using cloud-based financial services, you no longer need to be tied to a specific computer or even a specific network. You simply need an Internet connection.
- Photo editing. Traditionally, editing photos has been one of those resource-intensive activities that you could only do on your computer. After all, large graphics files require significant amounts of system resources to manipulate. Today, however, there are a number of services like Picnik that allow you to edit photos via a cloud service.
- Greater mobility. One thing that cloud services have done for us is allow us to use so many of our computing resources remotely. For example, you can access any of the services mentioned above from a smartphone or a tablet, rather than just on your PC. Cloud services are giving us fingertip access to our most important information, and giving additional steam to the mobile computing revolution.
Skeptics suggest that cloud computing is nothing more than a buzzword, that it’s hot today and will be gone tomorrow. However, when you think about it in terms of the bigger picture, it becomes readily apparent that the marketplace is ripe for these kinds of technologies. They make our daily lives more convenient, and more flexible. They give us greater access to the information we need. Not only that, they do it in a way that’s more stable and secure than if we were simply running applications on a home computer.
Eric Greenwood is a technophile whose interests have lead him to study all things cloud from software as a service to the online storage movement. Get more tips and advice on the blog Online Storage!
How People are Using Cloud Services in their Daily Lives,
Ricky
Mar 08. 2012
I usually use to share my files or collaborate the work with my colleagues.
Recently, I’m in love with ‘notes on the cloud’ function. It helps me to save my notes 😉
TechCrates
Mar 08. 2012
Thanks for the comment …
Nishadha
Mar 08. 2012
These are the most common uses for sure but in the future I think most software will be hosted on the cloud as a service. The flexibility it gives is amazing although there are some security concerns.
bubblebaths
Mar 09. 2012
Cloud services are going to always be popular, since most people want a way to keep files and be able to access them when and where they please. I really don\’t see it being a fad, since it\’s been around for a good amount of time.
Vic
Mar 15. 2012
Cloud services are great and I use a fair few of the ones you have mentioned in your post.
I haven’t used anything like the photo editing software yet as I would be a little bit paranoid about it deleting my data if my internet connection dropped?
webmasters
Mar 15. 2012
thanks for sahring.Cloud services are going to always be popular.
karan
Mar 18. 2012
yeah agree to you in all those points. Online operating systems are great too. There you can not only store files but even run them anywhere, anytime you want. Tried it for a couple of weeks and they were good though nowhere close to perfect
chanikacha
Mar 22. 2012
I only used Cloud computing for Email and online storage. I never quite used Financial services, Photo editing and Greater mobility. I truly love Cloud computing it is very useful!
Noc
Mar 28. 2012
Cloud is very useful for the people who are visiting there. It is the best way to protect your date.
Brain
Apr 05. 2012
Cloud services are easily available on internet a many people daily use this service on it. As given information, people use email service and it is called as aloud service. The cloud service must be secure because it includes personal information.
Nandita
Apr 12. 2012
Good info on cloud computing. Surprise to know that, we use cloud in our day to day life, unknowingly.
andrewmicky
Apr 19. 2012
I only used Cloud computing for Email and online storage.