Since its inception, the Internet has been associated with the symbol of a cloud. Very light drops full of information remain suspended in the virtual atmosphere: photos, texts, videos, music travel like a fluid around the world, without ever touching the ground. Plastics, semiconductors and liquid crystals of our personal computers are the window that overlooks the network sky. It is from this image that "cloud computing" takes its name
Literally the expression translates as "cloud processing" and indicates a new technology thanks to which the network is no longer exploited in a "static" way, but so dynamic as to allow the user to use both software directly on the web , without having to install anything on your PC, but a database in which to keep your files of any kind.
La Fig.1 it is explanatory in this sense. 
Its advantages appear evident. Let's think of the huge CPU savings, in the case of use of cloud computing software, and of mass memory, in the case of online data storage. Furthermore, the cloud allows an important reduction in expenses for companies, which can subscribe monthly or annually to the particular platform they need, in a sort of pay per use. Also not to be underestimated is the advantage of freeing yourself from all responsibilities regarding the maintenance and updating of programs. Furthermore, the peculiarities of cloud computing applications allow the use of the same even on your own smartphone o tablets.
But not all that glitters is gold. The cons of cloud computing give rise to many doubts regarding the increasingly strong tendency to delegate everything to the network and, therefore, to third-party companies. Because the network is represented by a magnificent, evanescent, unreal, white virtual cloud, but, in detail, software, sites and databases are owned by people and companies that are far from it!
Let's take an example. After the September 11 attacks, the USA PATRIOT Act was introduced into the US legal system, a law that, in order to combat terrorism, effectively limits the privacy of citizens enormously. The law in question grants the FBI, CIA, NSA the right to search databases, intercept Internet traffic and so on whenever the data is on American territory. And what does it matter to us, you may be wondering (even if you may have understood a little bit where this is headed). Most of the IT companies to which we entrust our information, both private and business, are based in the States (Microsoft and Apple just to name two) and this, legally speaking, is enough to make us virtual American citizens. The cloud computing combined with the Patriot Act can easily result in unauthorized market investigations, industrial espionage and who knows what other form of privacy violation!
(Fig 2)
It is clear that it would be very interesting to study what has happened and will happen in all sectors with the birth of cloud computing. However, we will deal exclusively with the area that concerns us here: the musical one. We will do this by starting by analyzing, in the next article, what tools the cloud makes available to “musically active” users, that is, those who do not just want to listen to music, but want to create their own songs, edit them and advertise them on the net. Whether you are professional musicians interested in the news of the sector, or simple amateurs who want to approach this world for the first time, the appointment is always on Age of Audio for the second part of “A cloudy future”.
Since its beginning, the Internet has been represented by a cloud symbol. Tiny drops of information dangling in virtual space: images, text, video, music traveling like a fluid around the world, never touching the ground. Plastic materials, semiconductors and liquid crystals of our personal computers are the windows on the web-based sky. Here is the image which “cloud computing” is named after.
Basically this expression (cloud computing) means that a new technology which allows the net not to be used in a “static” way, but letting users run both a software directly on the web in a dynamic way -with no need to install anything on their PC- and a database where they can save whatever type of files they want.
To that end, Pic.1 is explanatory.
This way, the opportunities that come with it seem clear. Think about the incredible amount of CPU saving, when using software in cloud computing, and mass memory saving, when storing data online. Moreover cloud allows companies to reduce costs considerably, as they can subscribe monthly or yearly to the specific platform they need, like some sort of pay-per-use service. Not underestimating the chance to get rid of all the responsibilities in maintaining and updating softwares. Also, the peculiarities of the applications allow the latter to be used even on your own smartphone or tablets.
But all that glitters is not gold. The cons of cloud computing make not a few doubts arise about the increasing habit of delivering it all on the web and, therefore, on third parties. For the web is indeed represented by an amazing, vanishing, unreal, snow-white virtual cloud, but, in detail, softwares, sites and data bases are property of natural persons and companies which are far from being it!
Let's give an example. After the September 11 attacks, the US Legal System enacted the USA PATRIOT ACT in order to fight terrorism; a law which in reality places strict limits to the citizens' privacy. This act gives FBI, CIA and NSA the right to access databases, to track internet traffic and anything else surfing the American territory at any given moment. You might be asking “who cares?”, (though you might as well have understood what we're dealing with). Most of the information technology companies which we entrust our data to, both private and business one, is US based (Microsoft and Apple for instance) and, legally speaking, this virtually makes us US citizens. Cloud Computing combined with the Patriot Act can easily turn into non-authorized market investigation, corporate espionage and who knows what other privacy violation form! (Pic.2)
It's plain to see that it would be very interesting studying what happened and what will happen in any field since the advent of cloud computing. All the same, we'll only direct our attention exclusively to the field we are considering here: the musical aspect. We'll start by analyzing, in the next article, which instruments the cloud puts at the “musically-active” users' disposal, that is to say to those who are not only listeners but in need of creating songs, editing and promoting them through the internet. Whether you are some professional musicians interested in the news from the field, or simply some amateurs who'd wish to get closer to this world for the first time, we'll meet you next time always on Age of Audio for the second part of “A cloudy future”.
Italian to English translation: Humbert of the Judge
