A very interesting "Blogwatch" posting at Computerworld links out to an interview with Richard Stallman wherein he posits that Cloud Computing is a trap to entice users to give up control and privacy and become subject to closed, proprietary platforms. Since RMS is a professional provocateur, I wouldn't consider all of his pronouncements newsworthy. But the thoughtful responses linked in this blog roundup were interesting, and I believe the issue of convenience vs control vis a vis Cloud Computing is a very timely and important debate to be having at this point in IT history.
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Member since:2005-08-28
Member since:2006-01-04
Yep. Having realised just how much information is stored on various companies servers, I've started ringing some of them up, and demanding they a) turn over a copy of the information and b) destroy the records if I no longer have dealings with them. (The Privacy Act of 1992 in New Zealand lets you do this). It is turning out to be surprisingly difficult.
It's not so much that I think Big (or little) brother is out to get me, is that I'm not comfortable with Joe Random employee having access to my personal information.
Member since:2006-12-05
I'm 23 and, yeah, I agree too. 100%. I like to be in control of my computer, including how it works and my data. If I don't like how it's set up to begin with, I want to be able to change it. I don't like the idea of everything I do being up there, in some corporate "cloud" that these companies will sell to other companies as soon as they see dollar signs.
I reject making it so that I can't play my music and video files and access my documents when I want, how I want (ie., practically any time I want). Electricity is quite reliable as far as service goes; it rarely goes out. My Internet connection sure as hell is not! Both of my poisons... er, local choices, Time Warner Cable and AT&T DSL have absolutely CRAP service. Whether it's constant outages (both) or throttled connections (cable), it's as unreliable as can be. And don't get me started on dial-up.
It's bad enough the Web is moving that direction, changing links to from actual audio and video files. Now it's some browser-crashing, CPU-hogging Flash monstrosity that tries its damnedest to keep you from "saving" the file by hopping right over the standards that worked so well back in '97, when I first started going online. The Internet sure has become a messy place, with the advent of DRM, Flash, and advertising companies...
Member since:2006-01-22
Member since:2005-08-18
Member since:2006-02-11
disagree with so many. :-(
I am in the generation right behind you by half a decade and I have to say that we do put a lot of information out there. I dont understand though, why this causes so much more concern now when it has ALWAYS been this way. I don't know if cloud computing has just made us suddenly aware of the implications and caused us to wrongfully blame it for a terrifying scenario that we could be in if we wholefully adopt it when we are already in it. I know it sounds a bit alarmist and we should be more careful with our data in the real world and on the internet (the distinction is moot)but come on, let progress occur and let us dim the chimes of the populist voices that seek to hinder the small evolutionary steps of technological advancement :-)
Member since:2007-09-06
When I screwed up in highschool, the whole small town knew and living that down didn't happen over night.. but it happened.
Today, when a highschool kid does something stupid, they document it on facebook or a dozen other internet hosted locations. They don't control that information, it belongs too the server provider the moment they hit the post button. It is perminently documented, can and will be found and used for unintended purposes. These previously highschool students are now being declined for job opertunities or graduate school applications. "we would like to have accepted your application but your background check turned up X, Y.. and W. We do not feel you are the best selection for the possition we are offering.."
At one time, it was completely normal to allow children out to play in the neibourhood and after dark; not many folk in the city that still feel that way.. unattended kids playing outside, or after dark.
Member since:
2005-07-06
... ever agree whole heartedly with RMS on something.
People are to ready to jump on some new fad without thinking about its implications. I don't mind using a webmail service for personal email. Non of that data is overly important or sensitive. But some of this stuff is just ridiculous, like the "WebOS" sites that store everything you do on their servers. Why would you want this?
My generation (I'm 21) is WAY to comfortable with having their lives completely open and in someone else's possession.
Edited 2008-09-30 18:22 UTC