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Computers on a Cloud: The Internet and Distance Learning

Posted: 22-11-2008 | Views: 145

Present-day higher education students are learning about an innovative new phenomenon that has been impacting degree programs across the nation. A number of people working on a class assignment can now write, edit, and enter reference notes all at the same time. Best of all, each one can complete this task while each is sitting in the comfort of his or her own home!

All of this can be effected by an exciting new alternative known as cloud computing. In spite of the name, the process is not related to levitation, weather balloons, or any other method of teleportation. Rather, students connect to one central computer databank with their PCs and link to the project all at the same time. Every person who is connected through the organization’s website is able work on the project and make changes to it simultaneously.

At this time, just two corporations, Google and Microsoft, possess the capability to facilitate cloud computing. These businesses have developed a means of using the Worldwide Web to connect personal desktops to one central computer owned by the facilitating organization. The facilitating company’s computer has the responsibility for storing the document, in addition to carrying out the numerous steps in the process that permit multiple computer users to edit the assignment.

How will online university degree programs be impacted by these new technologies? Because of this information technology, distance education degree students are now able to teleconference and collaborate on a class assignment without preventing any participant from accessing project. Furthermore, they have the ability to view changes made to other sections of the project even as the other persons are making changes. If one student believes that another person has erred, he or she can address this concern with the group or edit the project with present and involved in the project.

A possible drawback to this technology is that it could potentially result in a power struggle if a few group members are in complete disagreement about certain features, including font, writing style, or word usage. Most likely, both corporations will add options allowing the leader of the group to prevent certain changes from being made or lock out other project workers from changing the project when other members disagree with them. If this does not happen, these problems could result in a lot of damage!

New approaches to distance learning are often made possible through this kind of growth in the field of information technology. Issues about data loss and worms have led a majority of persons to abandon flash drives or CDs for the increased security offered by online information storage sites. System malfunctions and other worries have also encouraged many to opt for Internet-based mail applications like those provided through America Online or G-Mail.

Students should know, though each of these recent technological changes increase concerns about network safety and data privacy. Logging in to these huge computerized information storage sites may make it possible for unscrupulous hackers to mine data or gain access to banking information. Last of all, people who use this technology will only be able to hope that those organization who provide the information storage will demonstrate high ethical standards and not attempt to mine any data from private users who access these tools.

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