My thoughts on Cloud Computing:
The idea of cloud computing is both fantastic and concerning for me. I think it is fascinating that so many people are so trusting that their information is going to be kept private and secure. I think this concept goes hand in hand with the idea of anonymity on the Web. Some people feel they can say anything (and they do!) because they believe they are posting anonymously.
For me cloud computing is so exciting because its all about access. Knowing that I can access the information I want and need from any computer or smartphone is a very important invention. This means I don't have to try to carry a laptop with me, or pay for Wi-Fi. It means I don't have to carry papers back and forth from home to work, or clog up my email with partially completed documents. It means if I don't finish something at work, I can pick up where I left off at home, without having to configure my home PC. It also means the home PC is not cluttered with work documents that I then might forget to email back to work.
For me cloud computing means increased mobility, greater independence, ease of use, and a more efficient use of my time, all of which are extremely valuable to me. Knowing that I could possibly get into Google Docs from my smartphone, add information, then upload it to my blog, all while I'm sitting at the doctor's office, or waiting for a ride, or enduring a ride, is like a dream come true, and I'm not exaggerating. I am constantly searching for affordable and accessible options to make better use of the time wasted in transit.
Do I worry about privacy and security? Yes. Do I worry about lost information? Yes, and losing the information is actually more worrisome to me than the privacy and security issue, which isn't smart, I know. But the emphasis that I place on ease of access would overrule my security concerns the majority of the time. For me, the information I would place in cyberspace is not highly sensitive. I'm talking about general work information and journal/personal opinion type of posting. No government secrets or the recipe for Coca-Cola or anything. Yes, I worry about identity theft, but that can happen to anyone. A friend had their identity stolen when someone took mail out of their mailbox. And when it comes to losing information, that can also happen in or out of cyberspace. Papers can get thrown in the trash. Water leaks, flooding, or other kinds of damage can occur. So information isn't 100% safe anywhere, really.
Many aspects of life carry some amount of risk. I have a friend who uses a wheelchair. She now has an automatic lock in her and her husband's lift-equipped van that eliminates the need for her husband to physically tie down her wheelchair. She just rolls right in, and the device locks her wheelchair in place. For her it means greater independence. For her husband it means relief for his knees and back. For both of them it means saving some time. The downside is that in the event of an accident, the lock would disengage more readily than the conventional tie-downs would. For my friends, the ease and access of the locking device outweighs the risk that might occur in the event of an accident.
Life is about constant judgement decisions.
Something extra:
This link is actually not part of the 12 Steps of Web and Library 2.0, but I thought it was germane to the conversation about societal divisions in social networking:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/10/13/social.networking.class/index.html
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