New Google App and the Future of Cloud Computing

ReadWriteWeb recently posted a blog entry covering a new Google app and the future demise of desktop applications.

First up, a quick review of Google Docs ability to share drawings--or more specifically related to learning environments: Quick one-page graphical reports that students could create to enhance learning for them and their classmates.

Second, a reference to a new Pew Trust Study that talks about the future of cloud computing and the demise of desktop computing by the year 2020.

In other words: Status Quo, just when you get settled, it's time to change things up again.

Collaborate Online with Zoho

Zoho is a suite of production and collaboratory web 2.0 applications in the "cloud computing" network.The various apps includes word-processing, spreadsheets, wikis, chat, presentations and much more. The basic services are free to use. Feel free to check out the Zoho website to learn more.

What is Cloud Computing?

What is cloud computing? Basically its delivering technology resources to users over the Internet. And whats it got to do with Higher Education? Well there is quite a bit of talk on how Cloud Computing can help lower college IT and Distance Learning Budgets as well as provide a more sustainable environment. This article by EDUCAUSE has over 72 Cloud Computing Resources including articles, and pod casts for you to explore.

Some news...

Some interesting things have come up in the context of data and the control of the data now that more and more data is stored "in the cloud."

• Student sues Amazon.com (seeking class-action status) for the removal of a purchased book from his Kindle, rendering his class notes useless;
• Thoughts on Amazon.com and it's "control" over purchased data, and implications;
• FCC looks at Apple's App Store and practices on approving and removing apps;
• Podcast of Talk of the Nation segment: "Who Really Owns Your Data?" (mp3, transcript)

All have relate to things we need to keep in mind as we start using more and more of the Web in our learning environments.