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Unit 4: Cloud Computing for the Family

We shall start our discussion of cloud computing by understanding the uses of Web-based Notes
applications for an average family. As can be observed, computing in the cloud helps a family to
communicate and collaborate. Cloud computing brings family members closer to each other
and encourages communication between them. Today, messaging systems not only include
email, but also a variety of indispensable functions, such as contacts, mailing lists, and a calendar,
which allows users to plan activities and meetings, and has become an integral part of the
corporate toolbox. Together, these tools form a limited, but essential collaborative platform.

4.1 Centralizing Email Communications

We will now understand how the concept of cloud computing proves beneficial to families by
understanding how typical families use cloud based tools to encourage and strengthen
communications between family members. Let us now learn how computing in the cloud
encourages communications amongst family members.
The main objective of cloud computing is to enable easy access to emails in any part of the world
at any given time. Email, in one form or another, has been around almost as long as computer
networks and long predates the arrival of the Internet. In pre-cloud computing, your email
access was via a single computer. This computer also stored all your email messages. Microsoft
Outlook or Outlook Express and similar programs installed on your home computer were
mainly used for this purpose. You were required to use your ISP’s email access Web page if you
wanted to check your home email from work. And such a Web page was never in sync with the
messages on your home PC. This was the major problem with trying to communicate in this
manner.
A better approach is to use a Web-based email service, such as Google’s Gmail, Yahoo! Mail or
Microsoft’s Windows Live Hotmail. Gmail is the Google approach to email and chat. Practically
unlimited free online storage allows you to collect all your messages, and Gmail’s simple but
very smart interface lets you locate them conveniently. Windows Live Hotmail is yet another
free email service that gives you unlimited storage, fast search, good security. Windows Live
Hotmail has various helpful shortcuts when you need to organise your emails.
Yahoo! Mail is your ever-present email program on the web. Its free-form labeling and smart
folders and a strong spam filter to catch junk effectively make Y! Mail a joy to use.

These services put your email inbox in the cloud and you can access all emails from any computer
with an Internet connection. The messages you receive and send are stored on the Web, so
nothing depends on a single personal computer and you can access all the messages from any
computer that has an internet connection.
Over time, most Cloud service providers have added several other functions to their basic
email service. A wide range of advanced collaboration and communication tools now
complement the traditional email and calendar.

The basic advantage of using Web-based email is that no matter what PC you use, your messages
will always remain where they should be and will be in perfect synchronization. This facility
just makes it easy for you to check your home email from work, or from anywhere you happen
to be. Your messages remain in the cloud, not on any specific PC so you can conveniently use
your work PC, your home PC, a friend’s PC or your notebook PC for your work.
Such a facility allows you to stay in contact with your family irrespective your location. Sending
messages to your loved one without knowing exactly where they are has become much easier
with this innovation in technology. All you need to do is to ensure that you are connected to the
Internet. You can then simply open your Web browser and login to the Gmail, Windows Live
Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail websites. Access your email, go to your inbox and you will find your

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