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One example is [http://www.google.com Google Docs], which is supplied by Google for free. [http://www.google.com Google Docs] provides word processing and programs for spreadsheets and presentations on the Internet, letting you share your documents with whomever you want. You can even allow others to add information and help edit your work. In addition, many genealogical Websites provide the ability to collaborate with others and “build your family tree online.” | One example is [http://www.google.com Google Docs], which is supplied by Google for free. [http://www.google.com Google Docs] provides word processing and programs for spreadsheets and presentations on the Internet, letting you share your documents with whomever you want. You can even allow others to add information and help edit your work. In addition, many genealogical Websites provide the ability to collaborate with others and “build your family tree online.” | ||
== So, what’s the big deal? | == So, what’s the big deal? == | ||
I currently use my own PC to do everything I want to do. Why should I use “the cloud” to do what I already know how to do really well? What is the big deal? Well, some things are better done collaboratively with several users helping one another. The ability to have many people working together is what the Internet inherently provides. Hosting the data, computer, and software natively on the Internet flips the paradigm from the individual to the group and allows for a naturally collaborative experience. For example, I asked a few of my friends and an editor to help me write this document, and I got instantaneous feedback. And I didn’t have to keep track of multiple versions as each person changed and improved the document. Without this tool, I would have had to combine, resend, and track multiple documents. Determining who had which version would have become a big, time consuming job as I attempted to consolidate the feedback. Now, not only can I work instantaneously with others, I can farm out tasks to others and expand and limit participation as I see fit. The time savings are substantial. As for the quality of the work, "we” are always smarter than “me.” | I currently use my own PC to do everything I want to do. Why should I use “the cloud” to do what I already know how to do really well? What is the big deal? Well, some things are better done collaboratively with several users helping one another. The ability to have many people working together is what the Internet inherently provides. Hosting the data, computer, and software natively on the Internet flips the paradigm from the individual to the group and allows for a naturally collaborative experience. For example, I asked a few of my friends and an editor to help me write this document, and I got instantaneous feedback. And I didn’t have to keep track of multiple versions as each person changed and improved the document. Without this tool, I would have had to combine, resend, and track multiple documents. Determining who had which version would have become a big, time consuming job as I attempted to consolidate the feedback. Now, not only can I work instantaneously with others, I can farm out tasks to others and expand and limit participation as I see fit. The time savings are substantial. As for the quality of the work, "we” are always smarter than “me.” | ||
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== What does it mean to me in the world of genealogy? == | == What does it mean to me in the world of genealogy? == | ||
That's great for small businesses and editing documents as a group, but what does it mean to me in the world of genealogy? The genealogy market has already, in some ways, taken advantage of the power of cloud computing. Consider the millions and millions of online trees that have been created under a cloud computing model where the software, the storage, and the computers managing the information are somewhere in the Internet. Furthermore, in some cases these trees have been created collaboratively. Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of “Genealogy in a Cloud” is the ability to get help from others. A few sites like [http://www.findagrave.com/ Findagrave.com] is an example where the software, hardware, and data, all being provided in the cloud, provide data to the genealogical community from many participants. The site | That's great for small businesses and editing documents as a group, but what does it mean to me in the world of genealogy? The genealogy market has already, in some ways, taken advantage of the power of cloud computing. Consider the millions and millions of online trees that have been created under a cloud computing model where the software, the storage, and the computers managing the information are somewhere in the Internet. Furthermore, in some cases these trees have been created collaboratively. Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of “Genealogy in a Cloud” is the ability to get help from others. A few sites like [http://www.findagrave.com/ Findagrave.com] is an example where the software, hardware, and data, all being provided in the cloud, provide data to the genealogical community from many participants. The site [http://werelate.org werelate.org] already has two million people collected in their online family trees. In both cases, everything has been done with free software in a totally open environment for people to work together. | ||
== So, what does the future hold? == | == So, what does the future hold? == | ||
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