[via fcphoto]

The Economist does a feature on the emerging technologies of cloud computing. “Cloud computing” is a catch-phrase used to refer to a shift in the way computers are being used, one which is ushered in by services like Google Docs or online services that seem to do the same things that desktop applications once did. Technological shifts have enabled this shift, as “data centres are becoming factories for computing services on an industrial scale; software is increasingly being delivered as an online service; and wireless networks connect more and more devices to such offerings.”

The report is comprehensive and fascinating, with parts on the evolution of data centers, the novel idea of software as a service, the economics and business models emerging in the cloud, etc. There are more articles listed on the right sidebar when you follow any of those links.

Fittingly, the report ends in its last part on the deeper, ethical-political issues that the cloud will force us to face:

It is when computers become virtual machines that things get really tricky. These days IT systems are at the core of many companies—and just like data, these systems can now live in a variety of places. What happens if they start to migrate to another country where power is cheaper or regulation laxer? Similarly, if services are a combination of elements provided in different jurisdictions, who is liable if something goes wrong?

We’ve come a long way since the dawn of Web2.0 and all the gushing (mine included) about the new shape of the Internet. Here’s to hoping that new surprises continue to lie in store.