After looking at the new Google Apps, I started thinking of the future of online applications, and where you could go if you had an operating system designed to take advantage of that system.
What if each user owned one static ip and a "home server". This server would be built into their computer, and would not require any major set-up. The server would be used to store data from online applications and serve them out again when asked for by the user. The other option is to create centralized data-servers that you can rent to hold your data. (A distinct up-side to keeping your files on a local server is that you can access them even if your internet connection stops working.)
At this point, the only thing required of your OS is to run a web-browser and possibly store, send and receive files. By freeing up the need for excessive amounts of CPU, hard drives, and video, computers could be made smaller and cheaper and more portable. These "portals" could be set up in a library or a school at which point a user could access their files in an environment that would be almost indistinguishable from their home computer. Also, since it all runs through a basic browser, you could access your files ad applications from a standard computer as well.
I'm excited to see where this type of technology could lead, although I don't see being able to edit files that push 100mb over the net any time soon.
2 comments:
This is very possible. I could see many terminals throughout public areas kind of like the college. There you could use your programs over the net.
Could you play any strategy games over the net?
You can already play strategy games over the internet!
Microsoft seems to have the same idea - they are coming out with a new operating system: Windows Home Server.
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