Subject Matter Expert.....!

With all our realizations it was imperative to test the waters and keep a check with correctness of our base understanding as our idea construct was soon going to transform into pillars. On this note, we approached Dr. June a Computer Science department professor having years of expertise on Smart technology and Cloud Computing.

She is also currently a user of a smart phone which helped us get more insight about real time usage of such devices.

This is what she had to say….

“What according to you is the well-established method of communication and networking in contemporary times?”

Communication as such depends on the channel used and the style implemented. In terms of technological advent obviously computers and mobile phones are there which have been upgraded to laptops and smart phones coagulating digital media which not only allows communication but also helps in networking and information transfer.

"Could you elaborate more on “smart” aspect of smart phones?"

Smart as in the system is becoming more and more self-sustaining with the dependency switching over from the user to the system. Basically our outlook towards data has become more than just packets of information.

"Talking about this transition from user to system what is your opinion about Cloud Computing?"

Ah! Cloud computing is a highly debatable topic with the major concerns over security of information. Leaving that aside, its impact will definitely match to the levels of introduction to the internet as such.

"Could you please elaborate?"

Think of it this way that if I require a book which might be very costly or having such other constraints then I could very well rent it from a nearby library at much lower cost. Cloud computing is something like that. It avails information at the user end without the user end server having to go through all the processing. This enhances speed as well.

"Do you mean to say it optimizes?"

Yes definitely. Actually optimization including cost as well is one of the major advantages of cloud computing.

"Do you think everyone will be comfortable with this?"

Like I said, there are major concerns over security and reliability of cloud computing so big companies might hesitate in using such technology.

"And the user end?"

Talking about the users they would definitely benefit from this like in the fields of education, healthcare, social networking or even be it travelling to a foreign land…

After these fruitful insights we realized we hit the nail on the head with optimization. We even got to know about the drawbacks but we continued to focus on our idea......

Professor June was not comfortable with videography so we could only take photographs...

Batman and Cloud Computing?!!?!?

With a clear head (metaphorically :P ) we began our basic Mind  mapping about the relation of collaborative work with cloud computing.

We from our hunter gatherer times had been collaborative as such…So how does cloud computing come into the picture?
The answer was already with us….OPTIMIZATION!!

So in the contemporary times be it meetings, gatherings, conferences, lectures, outings or any form of social interaction (which is a two way process) involves a joint effort implies it’s a collaboration. With advent of internet we became “informavores” craving for information using tools likes mobile devices, touch pads, Laptops/PCs and other gadgets with the link established by data cables, wireless devices like Bluetooth, wifi, infrared, near field  communication, telecom services or all-in-all cloud computing.

Team Vision....at desk!

 So what’s the connection with the cloud? We could relate to the implications of cloud computing by recollecting the scene from the movie ”The Dark Knight” where Batman uses mobile phones of all the citizens to make a virtual map tracking the Joker.

Although for now this is fiction, cloud computing enables us to strengthen our already existing network technically called as its Infrastructure (virtual memory). Its remaining other two aspects being sharing and synchronizing which from our analogy is self-explanatory.

Advantages!?
Obviously speed, scalability, optimization and is economical.

Collaborative work necessitates interaction, which could be one to one or many and vice versa. It could also be direct or indirect in the sense of physically involving actions like talking, touch, gestures and vision or indirect through the internet. This could involve sharing and exchange of information like pictures, media files, documents, ebooks etc. via email, blogging, social networks, Bluetooth etc or all-in-all through cloud computing networks.

Initial Mind Map 

Its the optimization that matters.....

As Steven Pinker has rightly said we as humans have replaced our ecological niche as a species with a cognitive one. With the advent of computing technology we have definitely expanded our cognition to the next level. With this note our technology expands beyond the realms of infinity by introducing a new concept called Cloud Computing.

All computer users have come across cloud computing knowingly or unknowingly. The best example being of web based email services which help us store information online as well as interact with known/unknown users.

With these ideas in mind we realized that cloud computing was not only innovation but an optimization which was imperative in our idea…. 

Time and tide waits for none...but its better late than never

It was a “cloudy” and hazy start but as designers firstly the most important task was to comprehend the concept of cloud computing in the form of a block diagram understanding its basic principle. 

What's different???

We thereafter read and re-read the challenge as to what has been done and what new is being expected from us to ultimately understand what’s the challenge all about.

Brainstorming!!

With the Thinking Caps on...
disusing, debating , "Producing" ideas
anxiously awaiting that..
EUREKA moment!!

Lost in thoughts...

Brainstorming !!

Ah! The most interesting and confusing part of the job. :D

Random thoughts being worked upon right now:

- what is cloud computing?
- how it is being used ?
- What are interactions/ collaborative work users engage in ?

Mindmaps, Sketches......a lot is yet to be done!!

Team Vision : Online

We are all geared up and excited for the competition.

Good luck to all the participating teams :)