As with all other fields of human activity, IT is not immune from fads and fashion.
One of the recent fads has been for so-called cloud computing.
Wikipedia describes cloud computing (often truncated to just the cloud. Ed.) as follows:
Cloud computing is a recently evolved computing terminology or metaphor based on utility and consumption of computing resources. Cloud computing involves deploying groups of remote servers and software networks that allow centralized data storage and online access to computer services or resources. Clouds can be classified as public, private or hybrid.
However, almost from the outset, cloud computing has been heavily criticised by free software advocates such as the Free Software Foundation’s founder, Richard Stallman.
The latest effort to counteract the cloud computing hype comes from the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), which has just produced a sticker that tells the simple truth about the cloud.
That’s right! Other people’s computers, although in this case the people or persons are likely to be juridical persons, i.e. corporations.
The stickers can be ordered from the FSFE (scroll down until you find them) and a small donation to its work would be appreciated in return.
Pingback: New FSFE stickers explain cloud computing, simply | Bristol Wireless