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How Cloud Computing Works

How Cloud Computing Works: Author's Note

Author Jonathan Strickland
Howstuffworks.com

This article was part of a suite of pieces about cloud computing, cloud storage and the future of personal computing. When I wrote the article, cloud computing was a buzz phrase that only computer scientists, engineers and a few tech journalists used. It's now well on its way to becoming a household term. We see cloud computing applications everywhere. Smartphone apps use cloud computing technology to let you store and access data that normally wouldn't fit on your handheld device. Research institutions use cloud computing to house massive libraries of information. And video game companies are experimenting with ways to let you access state-of-the-art games without requiring a hefty investment in a gaming rig. It can be difficult to tell when a particular computing model will take off, but I think we can make the note that cloud computing is a huge success.

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