The near future of computing   

The technology behind the most significant invention of the 20th century, the computer, has been constantly developed since its invention. Since then, computers have progressed from large calculating machines to smaller but powerful PCs. They have also become mobile with the creation of laptops and Pocket PCs. They have changed the way we live and conduct business. They are used every day of our lives. When your computer breaks down, you're already having a bad day! But what does the future hold for them? The possibilities are endless.

There are many new computing technologies being developed right at this very moment, hardware and software alike. However, industry analysts have agreed that there are two related technologies which will greatly affect computing in the future; these are virtualization, and cloud computing.

Virtualization

Virtualization is basically creating a simulated or virtual environment. A virtual environment can run multiple operating systems in one hardware resource. Virtualization can also mean merging hardware and software to produce a virtual machine which makes one system perform like a cluster of systems. Before virtualization came into the scene, we used to employ at least two computers with different OS to run applications compatible with certain OS environments. Then tech people found a way to use one computer with different Operating Systems, by partitioning the hard drive and installing one OS in each partition. But the problem is you can only run one OS at a time.

Then virtualization was developed which permitted the running of multiple operating systems at the same time using just one host computer. Virtualization uses a program called hypervisor to make this happen. These hypervisors are sometimes called virtual machine managers. Through them, installing a new OS is like installing any other software.

There are actually many kinds of virtualization and some of them are: Server Virtualization, Network Virtualization, Storage Virtualization, Application Virtualization, and much more.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a mode of computing that refers to services and applications accessible over the Internet. The term "cloud" was coined from the collection of data centers located around the world that are providing these services.

Cloud computing is a money-saving option for individuals and businesses alike. This is an outstanding alternative for users who utilize costly programs as they need them and not on a regular basis. These costly programs can be rented from the "Cloud" for a period of time which will enable you to control the expenses connected with those programs. The savings could be substantial in the end.

Aside from application program services, the "Cloud" also offers temporary or permanent storage for your files. This is especially useful for businesses requiring their data to be accessed online at any given time. They can save money considerably by not putting up their own server and technical support to maintain it. The same can be applied if you need a hosting server to advertise your business for example. You only need to find one and rent it for a specific period of time.

Eventually Cloud Computing is all about utilizing computing resources to their utmost potential. Together, Virtualization and Cloud Computing represents the future of computing – decreasing IT expenditures while increasing efficiency.

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