"Computing on the Cloud"

“Computing on the Cloud” has been part of my online experience since 2004. At that time I started University of Vermont’s School Library Media Sequence. We accessed articles and other information through an online system similar to Moodle and posted a number of times each week to that forum.

Before that my online presence included searching for information, accessing a game or two and sending emails through Microsoft Outlook. I can remember playing one game once and thinking I would not do that again. It seemed so risky!

Now I look to “Web 2.0” for email, e-books, Google Docs, blogging, social networking through Facebook, taking online courses, an internet telephone, as well as information and databases for my professional life. I also have an account on a library site where I keep track of items checked out. I use a pharmacy with an online system that is located in a neighboring town. "Computing on the Cloud" is an incredibly useful and amazing organizational way of computing.

And now the risky side of these amazing apps and tools has reared its ugly head.  I just read “Computing In the Cloud: Who owns your files?” by Laura Sydell posted at NPR. This article is one of the reading requirements for week two in this course (Multimedia Apps and Tools at CCV). The article (podcast also available) chronicles one person’s loss of email and photos posted “in the cloud.” One day a password stopped working and all was lost. Thankfully NPR intervened. As a result Google checked into the situation and restored access stating
“some sort of security issue” according to Sydell in her article.

Have you ever read the user agreements to those accounts you use? I haven’t. I just downloaded Google Drive today and checked “I agree to the terms and conditions of use” without reading the particulars. 

After reading Sydell’s piece I am wondering if I ought to invest in the latest Microsoft Office Suite and an external hard drive allowing for backup of all my documents, emails and photos. Perhaps I ought to find that "Terms and Conditions of Use" where I checked my agreement and read it.

As I am writing this I know I will not be doing that until I purchase my next computer.  However, I will purchase a flash drive.  And I will continue my Google account as well as all my other “Web 2.0” connections.