Cloud Storage

Cloud Storage

The word cloud is a metaphor for internet, so when you add storage, it means storing something in the cloud. In other words it’s saving data on the internet, in a remote database. The whole idea is you usually have a memory stick, hard drive or removable disk to store you data. But you could decide to store it in an off-site storage system maintained by a third party.

The benefit of cloud storage is when you store data in a cloud, you make it globally accessible. This is what I mean, imagine a scenario where Mr. Reid works in a multinational company, his job requires him travelling to many countries. So he is in New York today and perhaps London tomorrow. If he has all his vital data saved in a cloud, it makes things a lot easier for him. It’s possible he might forget his laptop containing all his important documents or storage device, or perhaps the data he is looking for is saved on another laptop or PC. On arrival in London, cloud storage comes to the rescue.

Some big companies usually have a system whereby all software applications an employee would need to work is saved in a cloud. So if Mr. Reid is in London and carries the wrong laptop along with him (he might be in a hurry or the laptops looks the same) he is not constrained and can perform any task that he would have simply performed in New York.

Drop box is an exceptional example of cloud storage service, it allows users to create multiple folders on their computer and synchronize it so it looks the same on all computers you access the information on. Other cloud storage software are iCloud, Box, Google Drive, One Drive and it may interest you that even Real Player has changed its name from what it was to Real Player Cloud.

The Beauty of Real Player is you can store your music, videos and perhaps pictures. First, you install the application on your mobile phone, tablet or PC. If there are files to be stored, you transfer them to the RealPlayer cloud user interface. Then once you are connected to the internet, it would import the files to the remote server. If you want to share it with a friend or colleague or access it on any other smart device or PC, it’s going to be easy.

Mailboxes like Yahoo and Google do not allow you to send an attachment that exceeds 25 MB in size, if perhaps you want to send a large file, you might have to use either Drop Box for yahoo and Google Drive for Google. Most cloud storage services are free, in the sense that they encourage users to use their facility giving each new user about 2GB storage space on the server. But if you want more space, you have to pay for storage per month especially companies which needs a large storage space.

As I write this blog, I am reminded that I have to backup all client’s website files, and what saver way of doing it than putting it in a cloud. In case of any contingencies, I have a backup.

Now, you may have been a victim of virus attacks many times, these virus can wipe out the whole data in your storage drive or corrupt the data you have in a split second.

As much as it is unwise to share storage devices, I guess a much stronger quick fix to this problem will be to save my data in the cloud. So go online, choose your desired cloud storage software, register and start storing your data,

3D Printers

3D Printing is an amazing technology. We now have printers that can replicate an object say toys, tools and prototypes of electronics, robots, space objects, etc. There are many ways of printing in 3D but let me take you through one of them.

I’ll try to give you a mental picture of how 3D printing is carried out. You take the desired object to be printed and scan it in a 3D scanner to be later sent to the computer connected to a printer. The accuracy is about 40 microns. The image is then edited with the computer, (colors are changed). After you have done that you go ahead and print.

The printer contains a powder that is used to mold the object to be printed or replicated, so after the printing, the object is usually hidden in the powder, and you just reach out in to the powder and get the object. The next thing you do is blow off the powder.

The unique thing with this kind of technology is that it produces the exact shape with high precision. Another thing is that it is not expensive; you can get a 3D printer for just $1000 dollars. Since it is this cheap people now acquire these devices and use them for self-manufacturing of personal products.

Many companies like Nike is now using 3D printers to print football boots, 3D printed bikinis and dresses. Even a surgeons used 3D printers to re-sculpture the face of a motorcyclist who had be seriously injured in a road accident.

Having this type of printer, the experience are endless, imagine getting a replacement for your kid’s broken toy or a missing tool or perhaps you’ve worked night and day to design a robot, you could print out sample prototypes and send  them to prospective sponsors.

I think in the future of 3D printers will be in every homes and it will be so cool to have a 3D copying machine.