“Say goodbye with the PC, the manufacturing end of the cloud!” Apple’s current Chief Operating Officer and founder Steve Jobs on the conference can be described in iPad2 bullish. He declared, not without proudly to the world: he has let people living in “cloud” where, he has let people from the seemingly distant computing so close, “cloud” the time has come.
However, what exactly is cloud computing? How cloud computing will change our lives? The pace of what computing has been how far to go? You can also go far? The so-called “cloud”, it really is an all-powerful, carefree magical paradise? Reporters interviewed the South China Normal University, China Computing expert members of special committees Sen Zhao Gan and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of e-commerce engineer Liu Yichun two computing experts, they will recite these issues.
“Cloud” definition:
Obtain information on demand a “cloud” computing
What is cloud computing? Some people say that, in fact, is a calculation from the local and remote computing tasks assigned to a large unified computing platform model; also been said that cloud computing is that there is a cluster of servers on the Internet on the hardware and software collection, the local computer only needs to send a message through the Internet, the remote’s “cloud” will require the user or the service returns the results to the local computer, users simply use their own resources to pay for that part.
“The so-called computing, simply put, is the way people use computers is not the same.” Zhao Sen Gan then admitted, in fact, so far, computing, and there is no uniform definition of the industry do not want to give it a definition. “It has always been the traditional concept of a breakthrough in IT.”
“The emergence of cloud computing, in fact, related with people’s needs is a new model of IT applications.” Zhao Kam Sen explained that in the history of IT development, the first stage, people want to connect between the PC, so the structure of the Internet ; the second stage, people want computers to share between each other, thereby giving rise to the World Wide Web (WEB); the third stage, people find themselves is not so complicated information needs online, only the final results or service needs, “on-demand request and obtain at any time, it would appear computing.”
In Liu Yichun view, cloud computing is a business model, “a lot of computers connected together, providing transparent to the user, on demand by taking the services.” He said, simply, as long as the customer needs to provide information services, is the cloud. “In the past, the business is mainly selling goods to customers, such as software, such as books, cloud computing era, they have the software, books and other resources into the ‘cloud’ in, and then sell services to customers.”
“Cloud” mode:
Individuals need to build power plants pay the electricity bills on line
“In fact, we already use this style of computing in a.” Liu Yichun said, the 1980s, we print through the network to store data files, the 1990s, we have the Internet, this is the principle of this type of computing. “It’s just, when not raised the concept of computing.”
“Another example, is now the most used Baidu and Google, is that they use this type of computing, “Liu Yichun,” Of course, you want to achieve ‘Baidu, you know’, in the 1990s is not possible, because it was not so advanced as now cloud computing. ”
Zhao Gan Sen also said that the moment prominent among iPhone, iPad, and other products, in fact, also used in the cloud, people do not go to a different local search, download, install, payment and verification, but directly through a machine can be very easily be games, music and many other services they need.
“Soon, we no longer need to buy a computer, and only one can see the screen can be manipulated, other things can be handed over to this type of computing.” Zhao Kam Sen said, as people use electricity or running water, like the network, users do not a need to build their own power plants or water, only need a meter or meter home security, when necessary, turn the power switch or faucet, you can use, press the pay table on the line.
Liu Yichun put the metaphor of a shopping mall, customers do not need self-built shopping malls, what went shopping to buy on line.
“Cloud” of life:
Web appliances are the future life
“Cloud computing will rewrite a large extent our lives.” Zhao Kam Sen said that for people of this style of computing services provided by Virtual PC and storage space rental will be of special significance.
Zhao Gan Sen believes that cloud computing has changed his life. “In fact, I have now started to work as part of the information there is a ‘cloud’ in the I will to the ‘cloud’ leased computer, when my students need more than one computer, I will to the Amazon and other cloud services providers lease, 10 cents an hour, runs out to return. ”
He also said that in the future, we no longer need to save on their home computer, including photos and video, including a variety of information, do not worry because data loss caused by damage to the computer, or even, we do not need a computer with a host .
“Now most of us do not like storing cash at home, but their money into savings.” Zhao Gan Sen has cited the following example, the cloud computing business like a bank, as long as we pay a fee to them, they will responsible for helping us back up, storage needs and provide our services, “even if there are earthquakes and other disasters to worry about,” we need to, you can use to extract.
“Next, the cloud computing services more widely.” Liu Yichun, cloud computing will eventually be applied to things, “things after things, is no exaggeration to say that what we want on what can be done.”
Liu Yichun that depict the upcoming era of cloud life: the production of household appliances have now are equipped with computer chips, the next generation of appliances each will have its own network address, so that each household appliances can form a “family cloud “, a community of home appliances can form a” community cloud. ” That way, people sitting in the office, you can also access the “family cloud” or “community cloud” of home appliances, like remote controls for each, such as the air conditioning on and off, when to start washing clothes, and so on.
“Cloud” development:
Guangzhou “cloud computing” in September to experience
About cloud computing, Gan Zhao Sen said that in the theory and technology research, China’s integration with the world basically. However, in applications, the Chinese than the United States and other developed countries slow down. For example, in a virtual computer rental, the United States each year there are hundreds of millions of dollars Amazon revenue. At present, Guangzhou Tianhe Software Park has begun to build their own cloud computing center. In addition, e-government, etc., Guangzhou advantage of cloud computing to create a “smart, Guangzhou”, “wisdom Milky Way”, will have effect in September this year to experience. “It is estimated less than three years, we have to spend on a wide range of cloud computing.” Liu Yichun is that because of cloud computing core technologies, core products, and standards are all controlled by the developed countries, in general, China is still lagging behind the United States and other developed countries.
“Cloud” industry:
More profitable small and medium enterprises
Experts believe that cloud computing is not just a single change in the lives of people affected is greater changes in the environment in many industries.
“I think, in addition to some of the physical space and equipment depends heavily on the trades, such as some low-end manufacturing, other industries will be affected.” Zhao Kam Sen said, including IT, healthcare, transportation, distance education, government services , e-commerce, printing and publishing, entertainment (music, movies, games), will be the main impact of the industry.
Such as the IT industry, which they mostly do the procurement of equipment and other hardware service center, but now must be to serve as the center. “It’s like the power industry, if the main generator to sell before then, and now mainly sell electricity.”
Another example involves large amounts of data in the telecommunications industry, each customer has hundreds of calls every month to eleven charges, involving large calculations. With cloud computing, telecom operators can be more accurate statistics, analyze the vast amounts of data, locking each customer the radius of the circle of life and activities, so that advertisers can more accurately target group.
Liu Yichun that from the industry, all content providers will be affected by the development of cloud computing, and small and medium enterprises to benefit from cloud computing more.
“Big companies can build their own huge database, but small and medium enterprises because of cost reasons, it is difficult to do this.” He said, small and medium enterprises to their own e-commerce, customer relationship and other data to cloud service providers, as long as the lease information service on the line.
“Cloud” Security:
Bank safes can not sit back and relax
So cloud computing is really like in the bank safe it? It really allows the data store where every customer worries over? Almost all the experts the answer is: NO!
“On the ‘cloud’ security, is still not 100% effective solution.” Zhao Kam Sen said, according to a survey, users are most concerned about is the “cloud” security. “For example, I am on the ‘cloud’ in the photo, the administrator will not be for others to see? My data stored here will not be lost? My trade secrets will be leaked? Also, if a business want their own data from a ‘cloud’ to another ‘cloud’ If we can not go how to do? ”
Zhao Gan Sen said, as banks have to monitor China Banking Regulatory Commission and other oversight bodies, like cloud computing service providers also need effective supervision.
Liu Yichun said, “cloud” security is the “cloud” services in the most critical issues. From a technical perspective, you can take some measures. For example, the system can be taken between the encryption, the data can be on different computers were back up there, you can establish access control mechanisms on the computer, and so on.
“However, this security is relative, not absolute.” He said that all technical security measures are temporary, as technology evolves, there will be a new security issue, “to ensure the safety of the cloud, also need laws and regulations to regulate on the way. “
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