BTEC 2012

Unit 1 The Online World

Name: Charlie Eddington

Lesson 5 Cloud Computing

Starter What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing is internet-based computing in which large groups of remote servers are
networked to allow sharing of data-processing tasks, centralized data storage, and online
access to computer services or resources. Clouds can be classified as public, private or hybrid.
1. Name some well known hosting companies that provide cloud services.

Apple
Google
Rackspace
Microsoft

Cloud storage is related to cloud computing and is where only the hosting company provides the
storage, access and retrieval facilities.
2. What are the benefits of cloud storage?
Benefit
Cost and convenience
Availability

Reason / Description

You only have to pay for the storage that you have used.
You dont have to provide and maintain the hardware locally.
Data and files may be available anywhere
in the world where there is an internet connection.

3. What are the concerns that evolve around cloud storage?

Concern
Reliability of the network
Software

Reason / Description

You need to be able to get through to the host

to access and process data.
The host might not be using the latest,
fastest and most secure version.

4. What does ubiquitous mean?

Omnipresent; everywhere; common; all over the place.
5. Write down a definition for ubiquitous computer systems.

Ubiquitous computing (ubicomp) is a concept in software engineering and computer science

where computing is made to appear everywhere and anywhere. In contrast to desktop
computing, ubiquitous computing can occur using any device, in any location, and in any format.
A user interacts with the computer, which can exist in many different forms, including laptop
computers, tablets and terminals in everyday objects such as a fridge or a pair of glasses.

BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: Charlie Eddington

6. What are some examples of ubiquitous computing?

One of the earliest ubiquitous systems was artist Natalie Jeremijenko's "Live Wire", also known as
"Dangling String", installed at Xerox PARC during Mark Weiser's time there. This was a piece of string
attached to a stepper motor and controlled by a LAN connection; network activity caused the string to
twitch, yielding a peripherally noticeable indication of traffic.
Tablets
Phones

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification

6. What does RFID do? How does it work? (Use an example)

The basic idea is that you add tags (small radio transmitters) to stuff like cargo, suitcases, trucks
and what not, and using RFID technology (receivers that pick up the signal from the radio
transmitters) you can track the whereabouts of your items.

Plenary What are some futuristic examples of ubiquitous computing?

a.
Cars
b.
Robots
c.
Phones