e-Learning in “the Cloud”

You’ve probably heard a lot about “Cloud Computing” (also known as “Software as a Service” or “Saar”). This refers to a movement to turn computer terminals and notebooks into “client” machines that primarily (or only) execute applications running on servers somewhere out there on the Web. For example, instead of running Word from a notebook’s hard drive, you’d run a copy of the program that lives on a remote server…and perhaps even save your documents there.

This approach has advantages:

• Software use is monitored and controlled.
• Software version control is simplified.
• Virus dangers are minimized.
• Source data and resulting files may be stored, managed, and protected centrally, behind server firewalls.
• Less advanced (and expensive) computers can be issued to employees.
• A lost computer is less likely to compromise company or customer data.

And though the term “Cloud Computing” is fairly new, the concept itself is not. The insurance industry has done it for decades. In the early ’70s, sales agents for some of the larger insurers connected primitive “notepad computers” to a central corporate database through an analog modem. The agents dialed into the mainframe from clients’ homes and edited and saved customer or prospect data back to the mainframe. So the insurance industry was an early adopter of PDS (pretty darn slow) Cloud Computing. But that old Cloud ran over tel co copper wire…at 300 bps. Today, thanks to widespread broadband networks, the Cloud is staging a comeback. Anyone who uses Flickr, Shutter Fly, Photo Works, or YouTube is working there. Google is offering its own “cloud apps” (just Google “Google Docs”). And two of my own favorite Cloud tools (so far) are:

• Giffy Online Diagram Software, for creating diagrams and flow charts through a browser. ( http://www.gliffy.com/ )
• Pixel, a free online Photoshop work-alike. ( http://www.pixlr.com/ )

However, Cyber Works (and many of your companies) are already working “in the Cloud” when we host customer training campuses and materials on our own private servers. It’s been part of our industry for some time. Still, as hinted above, the core applications that many of us use to create training content may also migrate to the Cloud. Text editors, spreadsheets, and Flash-authoring tools may move there. And e-Learning content will flourish there, in both our own hosted servers and those of third parties like YouTube. But remember that The Cloud also comes with weaknesses:

• Internet connections are required, and stable ones are often essential. If a Cloud connection drops during a session, users may lose time, work, or even data.
• Customers’ data isn’t necessarily their own in the Cloud. It might live on someone else’s servers. True, users don’t have to worry about keeping their software current, maintaining sufficient disk space, or managing access security. Cloud suppliers would be doing that. But this also gives suppliers a lot of control over their customers’ data.

So even if you host your own private corner of the Cloud, remember that clouds (like darkened rooms) still scare some people. So anything you can do to protect your customers’ data-and to show them that it’s secure-will benefit both them and you.

Deepa Singh
Business Developer
Web Site:-http://www.gyapti.com
Blog:- http://gyapti.blogspot.com

Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com