A cloud based app is like …
What do you think when you look at this picture? Do you know about Cloud Based Applications? If yes, How does this picture represent your understanding of cloud based apps? If no, what questions do you wonder when looking at this photograph?
Please share your thoughts and reply to this post with an example of a simile that explains your understanding of a cloud based app. For example you could say: “a cloud based app is like a locker that holds all of your stuff.”
Your participation is greatly appreciated!
Follow the link below to our Weebly. We hope you enjoy working through it as much as we did making it.
Have fun,
Week 5 Group.
This is for Week 5 participation. You will find 2 activities on our Blog/Discussion board and we will be adding activities throughout the week so please continue to check back.
I had the good fortune to work on a cloud-based app at the beginning of this year. It was an interesting experience designing for the cloud. Some of my favourite apps embed into Google (of course) such as Cacoo (Hangouts) and Read&Write (Docs). I like this definition “A cloud application is an application program that functions in the cloud, with some characteristics of a pure desktop app and some characteristics of a pure web app.”
Here’s my simile – A cloud based app is like a handy tool, always available in my tool belt.
I think the image captures versatility and functionality of cloud based apps, I’m just not so sure about the term “cloud” in general; it doesn’t give me the most secure feeling when i’m uploading my man journals. Using a cloud based app is like storing your bike in the back of a strangers van.
Hi guys, your launchpad looks great. : ) I thought I’d mention I had a hard time finding it because it wasn’t located under the Forums > “W05/12: Opportunity Forecasts” as per David’s W5 activities recap: http://etec522m.sites.olt.ubc.ca/2014/06/08/a-prelude-to-week-5/. When I go to the Forums > Opportunity Forecast page, it’s empty: http://etec522m.sites.olt.ubc.ca/category/fora/opportunity-forecast-a2/. Maybe check with David, but you might need to edit this “launchpad” post and categorize it under: Forums > “Opportunity Forecasts (A2)?” http://etec522m.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2014/06/opp-forecast.jpg.
Bravo Week 5 EMA Team. Nice kickoff to this week’s explorations.
Weebly has an RSS feature, so please make sure to toggle it to the ON position for any pages within your site that would be useful for the class as an RSS feed.
Instructions –> http://kb.weebly.com/rss-feed.html
Thanks.
dp
Thanks for the tip Bobbi, all done, now it appears under the forums->opportunity forecasts.
I think the image illustrates the many capabilites inherent in cloud based apps.
A cloud based app is like a portable briefcase.
A cloud-based app is like the weather. It’s intermittent and unpredictable. It’s great when it works, but terrible when it doesn’t, and it’s entirely dependent on location, and your access to wifi/data. One must always be prepared that you can’t access the app when you need it, so you better have a backup plan!
I don’t trust the cloud… I’m intrigued by the fog however…
I think of the cloud as offering customized services and products to users in a way that allows for accessibility from anywhere, with various built-in features, means of communication and sharing.
When I think of cloud-based apps I also think of what I am most familiar, Google Apps!
Thats a great analogy Aaron. I think that with the growing ubiquitous nature of wifi/data, the unpredictability will decrease over time.
Many cloud apps do have offline modes and allow you to sync back with the cloud when you are back online.
Google is “king of the cloud” as it stands, but I think many other services are catching up. With so many people carrying Apple devices, iCloud seems to be a safe bet. I’m also intrigued by Amazon Cloud because of their advantages with streaming capabilities.
Yes, a portable briefcase that reaches deep and can be accessed by multiple users simultaneously.
LOL, could that stranger’s name start with a ‘G’? It is a good point though, security is always on the forefront of people’s minds, especially after the revelations of the NSA and companies like Target getting hacked and giving up private customer data.
I think cloud service providers are hoping that it will be the only tool you will every need in your tool belt.
My first association that is evoked by your floating cloud is my ICloud that I use for my Apple products. I see it like a weightless chest box that I could look into even when not at home. However, I am not sure that I am the only one who has the key to it and that makes me slightly uneasy. Also I would like to be able to access it whenever I want, and I know that clouds float and sometimes are hard to catch.
Whenever you talk about 24/7 access, there is always a dichotomy between security vs access. Lock it down too much, then it won’t be always accessible. Make it always accessible, and it may be too vulnerable.
The term “cloud” does have a variety of connotations to it. I think cloud service providers want everyone to be able to access their information from various places, just like it rains on more than just one house, however there is the wispiness of the clouds which leads us to think that they are impermanent and may vanish in the blink of an eye, with all of our data. As Bruno mentioned, cloud services will continue to have a mind for security and privacy measures as cloud based apps become more popular.
I think that this picture represents how versatile cloud based apps are, and how each one will have its own function. Many can be used for a social experience, to enhance education, or to help with productivity and organization. In a world where we’re constantly replacing and updating technology it becomes a little easier when we can have an app transfer contacts, photos, e-mails, etc to a new device.
A cloud base app is like travelling with a full closet in your suitcase.
Also – I have to admit that coming up with a simile was hard! You’d think that might be an easier task.
I agree with Bruno that the wifi fog will decrease over time and become much more reliable as more users connect on a regular basis. In the meantime, offline modes allow you to continue working with the app and uploads the information when it is available. I have found this with medical and fitness apps. In fact, I have a fitbit app that does just that.
I think the cloud based apps are like real clouds, they cannot be held or pinpointed or confined, they are not one single entity , yet their collective dispersed existence creates a powerful experience for all of us.
I agree, you would think that creating a simile for the picture would not be as difficult as it is. However, there are so many different points of view when it comes to the “cloud” that it is hard to pin it down to something fairly simple. I like that you have compared it to a full suitcase with a variety of options to choose from. You like all the things in your closet, but each piece has a specific function. You wouldn’t wear your bathing suit to the office, but you would definitely need it at the beach. Cloud apps can surely be thought of the same way. Great comparison!
One could also think about the real clouds having different functions, clouds that bring us a gentle rain as opposed to those that visit upon us a terrific thunderstorm.
When I look at the picture of the cloud, I think light and easy – no more cumbersome books and wads of paper, no more memory sticks which I am always losing, no more looking for stuff saved in a zillion places. Cloud computing is like repacking my stuff and travelling light. And the picture of the soccer ball reminds me I have to download the FIFA app soon. 🙂
I just had a peek at your Weebly site and am enjoying it already. Just a suggestion for navigation. Would you consider making your homepage and some of the external links open in a new window so we can get back to this forum and your site quickly? Thanks!
What do you think when you look at this picture? Do you know about Cloud Based Applications? If yes, How does this picture represent your understanding of cloud based apps? If no, what questions do you wonder when looking at this photograph?
When I look at this picture I see a modern and future way of using computers. I see documents like photos and email stored on the cloud accessible anywhere in the world. This reminds me of a friend of mine who recently had his IPhone stolen. Without purposely uploading the info to the cloud, he was able to receive everything (including photos he thought were gone forever) on his new phone just by hooking up to the internet. There was no difference between the new phone and old phone except that it looked newer. All apps and personal info, email accounts, photos etc. were on the phone! This is my experience mostly with Cloud Based apps. The picture pretty much sums it up – all of these things on my computer are stored somewhere in some intangible place like a cloud. The cloud represents where the information is stored without me actually knowing, touching or feeling it, I just know that it exists. I think particularly the icons for wifi, phone, and home make sense to me because the cloud connects everything and can sync home and work calendars. It has no geographical limits.
One thing I did wonder about is what happens if you use cloud based software and your internet goes down? I know that many companies struggle to keep up with bandwidth requirements and this causes the internet to be patchy or not work at all. Would this affect functionality of say a cloud based Microsoft Word? Would companies have to upgrade bandwidth and wifi capabilities in order to increase cloud based apps?
My Simile: The Cloud is like a seat belt that protects you when you need it most!
Hi Aaron,
I initially saw the cloud as a security blanket because if something happens to your hardware (computer, phone etc.) you still have that information. Upon seeing your post I can see that it is equally valid, the cloud is only as good as the wifi it is on (this is something else I mentioned in my post). I suppose like all forms of technology we need to make sure we are prepared and not rely on one thing! Murphy’s Law!!
When I look at the image I think that the cloud could easily be replaced by a brain. While I have used cloud apps in the past, I am just now gaining a better understanding of the pros and cons, uses, future potential for cloud learning as I research for our topic in Week 8.
Hi Aaron,
Great post! You really got everyone talking. I agree with your concerns when it comes to accessing apps. Presumably, the apps are in the cloud because they require more computing power than you may have on your own device, so you need to “talk to the cloud” to interact with the app. This is how siri works. But what would you do if you lose connectivity?
I agree with Bruno that storing data in the cloud is not as bad. You can store data in the cloud so it will be more accessible when you need it. And keeping the data you need right away on your own device is an option. I guess you can store your large cache of small apps up there as well.
A cloud based app is like a tool box that you can access any time. However, if you forget to put a lock on it and keep it safe, other people can access it too.
ana1:
Also one of the external pages linked to weebly compares cloud apps to banking, money, and cards. I am not sure if that’s a good analogy given that money has a physical dimension (back-up) and cloud computing, apps, and data don’t. It seems that the website is trying to sell these services which is understandable. However, the end user needs to evaluate critically what is being offered.
The way that money is being used is changing rapidly as well, with the rapid adoption of debit and credit cards, eTransfers, etc… The concept of a physical dimension of money may disappear altogether in a just over a decade.
I think a cloud-based app is like a giant purse you can take anywhere. It will hold all of your stuff, but you need to organize it with pockets (folders) to be able to find anything in a pinch. You can choose from different designers, and pay as much or as little as you’d like. You’re in trouble if someone steals it (hacks it), and it’s tough to get your wallet back if it happens.
Cloud based app is an app that connects to the internet and keeps a copy of its content on the internet. The cloud computing technology means that even if the traffic of users to the app site increases this will not effect the performance of the app. The cloud will expand surfing all the traffic. Cloud in the manner we see it is a SaaS (Software as a service) and this means lower costs. The cost is managed according to consumption rather than a fixed payment for a none dynamic server to host the service at. Cloud is secure and inception is reaching 4k bit level which makes it more secure than any 128 bit incepted computer. Cloud rules are becoming mature now. In EU and USA there are certain rules to guarantee the availability and location of stored data on the cloud.
A Cloud-based application is like a bubble full of air, or a balloon full of air. You can actually see the bubble or the soap portion, because it is physical, and in this case the content that you contain is the liquid soap. All the personal data is the liquid soap before the bubble is formed. The bubble upon its formation from soap to a crystalline form is the process of freeing the data or the soap from the bottle and permitting air to carry it, in a contained format. In a sense, the Cloud app is the air inside that has locked the data around, and permits it to free itself from the bottle and float naturally in space. There is no physical constraints, ie. as the bottle at this point in time. The air itself asks as the open, limitless boundaries of the cloud. It might be an interesting comparison, but it does make sense.
What do you think when you look at this picture? Do you know about Cloud Based Applications? If yes, How does this picture represent your understanding of cloud based apps? If no, what questions do you wonder when looking at this photograph?
When I look at this picture, immediately I think – FREEDOM. It is the freedom from the actually physical hard drive of a computer, space is no longer an issue, and boundaries are undefined. I am very familiar myself, and use Google Drive (as a cloud), and ICloud. Both of them are great, and permit me to upload material whenever necessary. Different applications, such as DropBox also have cloud enabling components. When the application sit on a cloud, they are sitting on air in a sense, but air also has its limits. Cloud servers have limits, and although they may be vast, there is nothing in this world of technology that is limitless. The applications lift off, much like a plane and soar through the sky collecting more data, becoming larger and having space to grow without the user ever worrying much. Interestingly enough, the largest demand for space is now the need to expand server space, and many of these servers are now being built in remote geographical locations that are found in parts of Canada cold enough to cool the mechanics. Think about the movie Transcendence with Johnny Depp and the amount of server space needed to build the servers to support advanced technical needs. It is also a job highly in demand, if you are willing to travel to these northern location where the servers are located and troubleshoot problems!
Talking about losing your information if the internet goes down or you lose your device, I often wonder what happens if the cloud server goes down or out of business. What would happen if Dropbox, for instance, disappeared from the internet? Would all our files be transferred to another cloud service or would we lose everything we had stored there? It is for this reason I often have things stored in more than one place, even though some of them are different cloud applications. What do you do in case this happens? Do you think it would ever happen?
I guess that paper copies of documents and information would be the physical dimension of the cloud applications such as Dropbox or Edmodo, where you can store items that can be downloaded and printed. However, they also allow you to store items that are not readily transferable to paper, such as websites and videos.
When I see this picture, it reminds me of how people from different locations can all see the same cloud(s) and therefore, access the tools in the cloud at the same time. I also see it as a place that has limitless growth opportunities, as much as the sky allows it. The airiness of the cloud speaks to the ability for me to not have to worry about papers, memory sticks, external hard drives.
Hi Week 05 Group, thanks for an interesting and informative presentation on cloud-based apps. I particularly appreciated how you drew upon the cohort experiences with regards to the pros/cons of cloud app use. These answers could certainly yield some insights into new future venture avenues for solving the problems/issues raised here. For example, the issue of US data storage creating privacy issues for Canadian citizens could prompt new horizons for Canadian storage services to get around these problems. In terms of feedback, the only suggestion for improvement that I could make would be to move the survey on your Blog/Discussion page to a prominent place at the beginning of the experience, as the activity states it should be completed “prior to exploring our website,” however a viewer is most likely to explore the website, then stumble upon this afterword being the 8th page in the sequence. Or alternatively, on the Home page of the website you might want link to the survey here. When I look at the cloud app image, I see both freedom and separation from my data. It creates a lovely conundrum for me, leaving my data storage to “experts” and trusting in the promise of the cloud. I’m not sure how this makes me feel, other than divided. I question my trust & security of my information. :
What a great analogy! I love it! It is very true, and sometimes it takes a lot of shopping around to find the perfect one. And like purses you know exactly what you are looking for when shopping but sometimes the perfect one pops up that intrigues you!
Thanks for the great thought!
Great tip Kirsten. We had to throw this up fairly quickly, with time we will take these suggestions and look at doing some fine tuning. We appreciate the suggestion!
Could you elaborate more on your brain idea Laura? I would be curious where your thoughts are going with that comparison.
Wow! It sounds like you know your cloud based apps! Have you worked with them a lot?
Thank you for the tips Bobbi!
You’re welcome. Thanks for the great videos and media : )
Hi Anne,
Good question! I’ve actually never thought about that before! I would have to guess that it would just be gone. I suppose too that each type of cloud server (Google, Apple, Dropbox) has their own separate server unrelated to one another. Doesn’t sound so magical anymore! You also reminded me about my fear of some financial or personal information being stored in the cloud. I wonder what the security is like on that? I wonder if apple servers are remembering my online banking passwords?
Wow, that’s really interesting, I had not thought about them going to northern locations. I had heard about huge servers being built and the need to cool them (and the pollution that comes with it) but had not yet heard that they were using Northern Canada as a spot to host them. This is good news for us though because it means the information is stored in the country and therefore it is legal! Is there a way to know where your information is being stored?
Hi Week 05 Group,
Thank you for an informative walk through of cloud based apps! I think the one interesting consideration around the cloud is one of control. Once information passes to the cloud a state of dependency exists between yourself and the owner of the cloud. The cloud is a very convenient repository of information; so easy to use that it quickly becomes a necessary component of our data based activities. However, although we populate the cloud, some one else owns it and there exist very few safe guards regarding what they can do with the information. The companies who own the cloud based apps and services report to their shareholders not to their customers. What happens to our data if the company no longer stays in business? For example, once upon a time, families could bequeath rare or valuable books to future generations. Now, you could pass on your Kindle user ID and password. If one day Amazon felt that the online book business was no longer profitable and wanted to leave it, what would happen to all their users and their libraries? I think ownership is an important aspect of cloud based data and needs to be considered.
Best Wishes
Maxim
At least that’s what the proponents of cloud based apps are promoting. I think in an ideal world, we would all like to be able to collaborate freely and not have the restrictions of being tied down to our desktops or our wifi connections.
A cloud based app is like a giant filing cabinet that does not take up any room in your office. You can find any file you need for any purpose right when you need it. The filing cabinet holds ‘files’ but also holds tools that you require to find and process these files. Cloud based apps mean allowing you to share the filing cabinet (or a portion of it) with anyone that you need to at any time. They can even add to your filing cabinet or change the information.
What do you think when you look at this picture? Do you know about Cloud Based Applications? If yes, How does this picture represent your understanding of cloud based apps?
When I think of Cloud Based apps, I think of a basket of different app (each with a different place in the world) that all interface and run on a variety of devices. I think that the beauty of most cloud based apps is the ability to be almost completely platform free and not dependent of the OS or type of device.
I think of Cloud Based apps as a hot air balloon. The information is floating just above the ground and mostly lands where you want it, but on occasion needs to be found as it is blown off course!
PS: Excellent Site! Great Job!
Hi Group 5,
I didn’t know much about Cloud-Based Applications before thoroughly investigating your website earlier this week. I really like how your group explained the origins of the name with the cloud pictures and addition equation. When I look at this picture, I think about all the possibilities entailed with using Cloud-Based Apps.
Well for me the picture depicts the cloud holding and hosting lots of icons representing apps. Considering the fact that clouds are omnipresent in the sky, this picture well explains the cloud essence and accessibility and presence of the cloud hosted apps for the end users. Though, by covering the cloud and cloud apps, appears that you as a Week 5 Group partially covered and touched a topic domain rightfully reserved for the Week 8 Group – Cloud learning. I believe that you should have covered web apps, mobile apps, etc. not directly addressing the cloud, therefore leave the cloud as a base for hosting learning solutions for the Week 8 Group. Week 5 and Week 8 teams, what are your perspectives on that?
All the talk about security had me thinking about my eBay account. It seems people hacked into the eBay system but they didn’t bother to tell us until 3 months later! It is difficult to trust that anything is really secure. I back up my Google accounts with a text message if I (or someone) signs into my account on another computer. I like this extra layer of protection. That’s the only place I have that kind of double security other than my online banking which has a card number, a password, security questions and an image.
http://mashable.com/2014/05/23/ebay-investigation-security-breach/
I think a cloud based app is like a phone directory. In case of a phone directory names are arranged in alphabetical order whereas in cloud based app instead of names we arrange different apps which everyone is using every day. This phone directory has to be of a pocket size as we tend to take it with us everywhere.
Bruno, Karalea, Jenny, Anne and James I really loved your weebly. You have shared a good depth and detail about cloud based apps. I particularly like the pros/ cons and build your own app section. Great work!!!
A cloud-based app is like a drawer of personal belongings that we can access in an instant.
Hi Group 5 – Great job on cloud-based applications! I find your section on ‘Common Cloud-Based Apps’ to be very helpful, and many of these resources could be implemented in a classroom. One of the biggest challenges I’ve found with using cloud-apps with my students is the privacy issue. Some apps have great features, but I can’t use them because I am not sure if they comply to my district’s policies regarding Internet safety. I am looking forward to seeing more cloud-based app’s that would allow safe student access in an education setting : )
Omnipresent is a good way of representing it. Although that term also brings up all the other issues that go with it, namely privacy and security.
Hi Group 5,
Great job with the weebly! I found the site to be quite interesting, and a good resource. When I think of cloud-based applications I think of Seven Eleven. They are ubiquitous, open for business at any time, and they source and distribute products worldwide. This comparison also has ties into the theme of consumption. For example in this program I have downloaded numerous articles off the web, ‘consumed them’ for information for writing papers, and then shared them via cloud-based apps like Google Docs.
What I love about cloud-based applications like Google Docs is the collaborative aspect they offer, but also the ability for students to access uniform platforms for free. A small pet-peeve I have as a teacher is when students hand in work electronically in different file formats, but since students discovered Google Drive, I have experienced this much less often.
Great analogy! I definitely picture cloud based apps in a similar way!
Love the hot air balloon analogy! Very true! Sometimes in a space so big, things can get lost!
Thanks Shane! 🙂
Thanks Kendra! Security has definitely been a running topic in our discussion of cloud based apps. It is important to be aware of safety issues and to take the extra precautions to make sure our data is safe and secure.
Thank you!
And yes – security, as mentioned in previous discussions is a big issue when it comes to cloud based apps. We need to be especially aware of this issue when implementing cloud based apps for learning in the classroom.
Great analogy!
While researching the various cloud based apps for the “Common Cloud Based Apps” section, I noticed that “collaboration” was a running theme among many of the apps. Many of these apps can be used not only in the classroom but in businesses as well.
Cloud based apps enable better collaboration and can also helpful for project based learning. Especially in e-learning – the cloud (as we all have experienced) is a helpful way for groups to work together effectively and collaborate on projects.
Cloud computing is like a bank account for me – instead of keeping my money at home, I store it at the bank. Similarly, documents, pictures and communications such as emails, are stored on the internet instead of occupying a physical location in my home.
I have to agree though with many of the other comments citing concerns about security of the information placed in clouds. For example, regarding data ownership, if a cloud service provider is bought by another company, would you still own your data? Also, there’s the risk that you may lose your data as there’s no guarantee your data is being backed up once its on the cloud. In addition, a cloud provider’s infrastructure may exist in a country that has different government monitoring and privacy laws then your country.
I used to work for a company who used to mitigate some of the risks associated with cloud computing by ensuring that highly sensitive information (e.g. strategic company plans, not yet released corporate financial results) was never placed on clouds and confidential information (e.g. customer information) was always encrypted before being placed on the cloud.
Despite the security and privacy concerns, I use the cloud on a daily basis for email (Outlook.com). I love the convenience of not having to install software or run my own server to use the services provided in the cloud.
I think they are hoping this too. Is that a practical hope? I’m not sure.
Hi Group 05,
Great work done on Cloud based apps and your visual beginning activity. I was somewhat familiar with Cloud based apps but your website offered more insight and learning into the apps. Thank you!
A cloud based app is like a backpack that holds everything I need that may be used for private (identification) or public consumption (i.e. take books out to use in class). The picture elicited numerous applications and uses for Cloud based applications and showed so many possibilities in terms of programs.
Have you thought about adding the different Cloud services to your site? Such as Amazon, Oracle Cloud, Zoho, Microsoft are some of the current cloud vendors that are currently out there now. Along this same vein, your project brought to mind issues concerning monopolies and privatization of cyberspace. So many Cloud based apps enhance content accessibility but could lead to further privatization by select companies in terms of vendors. Who then will have monopoly over these services and cyberspace as a whole?
The word that comes to mind is “storage”. The picture represents my understanding of cloud based apps is that you can have access to everything abstract, most importantly information and knowledge in a similar abstract location place (created by computers and servers in a fixed location that most of us will never see.) A cloud based app is like a tool you can access from imaginary place (as long as you have a web browser).