Cloudy Daze

Having everyone's work performed by and stored on a big centralized computer complex is a repeat of the mainframe era. Not only was 1965 the year IBM introduced the S/360, it was also the year the Rolling Stones told us "Hey You, Get Off Of My Cloud". Since then we've had mini-computing, micro-computing and distributed computing. Now, 42 years later (which would make Douglas Adams happy), we're back at a central computing model and being urged to Get Onto My Cloud.

If this cycle repeats (which, by definition, it must), in 10 years we should be moving from a generalized 6000 processor central complex to a groups of mini-complexes, each providing specialized cloud computing to meet specific needs. It would be nostalgic if a group of specialized clouds could be termed a BUNCH, for old time's sake (as only old-timers will remember).

To provide some perspective, it's worth remembering that a cloud is merely a few wisps of mist gathering together while travelling, sort of like a Contiki tour of the sky. At any time, the tour could end and these clouds will dissipate with no evidence they ever existed. Until then, in enough numbers - like Contiki tourists - clouds can wreak havoc and destruction.

If this all seems too much, Richard Bach, from his book Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah offers some advice: "If you really want to remove a cloud from your life, you do not make a big production out of it, you just relax and remove it from your thinking. That's all there is to it."

Bruce Kirkham is a veteran IT satirist and professional speaker specializing in leading edge technologies and scepticism, who views the IT industry not so much as "dot com" as "dot comedy"