Unit - V Trends in Cloud Computing

The landscape of cloud computing is constantly evolving, driven by new technologies and innovative
applications. This unit explores the key trends shaping the future of cloud, its relationship with ubiquitous
computing and the Internet of Things, and the benefits of major cloud platforms.
5.1 Cloud Trends in Supporting Ubiquitous Computing
Ubiquitous Computing (also known as pervasive computing) is the concept of making computing
seamlessly available anytime and everywhere. It envisions a world where technology is so deeply
integrated into our environment that it becomes invisible, yet constantly accessible through various devices
and interfaces. Cloud computing is the fundamental enabler of this vision.
Analogy: Ubiquitous computing is the idea of air-conditioning being everywhere. Cloud computing is the
massive power plant that provides the energy to run all those AC units seamlessly, without you having to
build a new power plant for every room.
How Cloud Computing Enables Ubiquitous Computing
1. Global Infrastructure and Broad Network Access:
o Explanation: The cloud provides a globally distributed network of data centers. This massive
infrastructure allows data and applications to be accessed from any location on any device,
fulfilling the "everywhere" aspect of ubiquitous computing.
o Technical Term: Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) play a key role by caching content closer
to the user, reducing latency and making the experience feel immediate.
2. Scalable and On-demand Resources:

o Explanation: Ubiquitous computing generates a vast amount of data from countless sensors
and devices. The cloud's elastic scalability can handle this massive influx of data and provide
the computing power needed to process it in real-time. Without the cloud, managing such a
workload on a fixed, on-premise infrastructure would be impossible.
o Technical Term: Serverless Computing (FaaS - Function as a Service) and Microservices are
trending architectures that allow developers to build small, single-purpose functions that
scale automatically with demand, perfectly suited for the unpredictable workloads of
ubiquitous devices.
3. Data Storage and Analysis:
o Explanation: Cloud platforms offer virtually unlimited, durable, and cost-effective storage for
the petabytes of data generated by ubiquitous devices. More importantly, they provide
powerful data analytics and machine learning services to extract insights from this data.
o Example: A smart home system uses cloud storage to save data from its devices
(thermostats, cameras) and cloud-based AI services to learn your habits and automate tasks.
4. Device and Identity Management:

o Explanation: As the number of connected devices explodes, managing their security,

identity, and access becomes a challenge. Cloud platforms provide robust Identity and
Access Management (IAM) services to authenticate devices and users, as well as IoT device
management services to monitor and update devices remotely.
 o Example: A smart city platform can use cloud services to manage thousands of traffic
sensors, streetlights, and cameras from a central dashboard.
Recent Cloud Trends Driving Ubiquitous Computing
 Edge Computing: Processing data closer to the source (at the "edge") rather than sending it all to a
central cloud. The cloud still provides the long-term storage and heavy-duty analytics, but the edge
handles real-time processing, reducing latency and bandwidth usage.
 AI and Machine Learning as a Service (AIaaS/MLaaS): The cloud democratizes AI, allowing
ubiquitous devices to leverage powerful, pre-trained AI models (e.g., for image recognition, voice
commands) without needing local, high-end processing power.
 Containerization and Kubernetes: Technologies like Docker and Kubernetes enable applications to
be packaged and deployed consistently across different cloud environments and even to edge
devices, simplifying the management of distributed systems.
5.2 Enabling Technology in the Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects ("things") embedded with sensors, software,
and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems
over the internet. These "things" require specific enabling technologies to function.
Analogy: If IoT is a symphony orchestra, then the enabling technologies are the individual instruments.
Each instrument (RFID, sensor, GPS) has a specific role, and together they create a cohesive musical piece
(an IoT application).
Key Enabling Technologies
1. RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification):

o Explanation: A technology that uses radio waves to automatically identify and track tags
attached to objects. An RFID system consists of a tag (containing an antenna and a chip) and
a reader.
o Role in IoT: Used for non-contact identification and tracking.

o Example:
 Supply Chain: Tracking inventory in a warehouse. A reader at the door automatically
scans tags on pallets as they enter or exit.
 Access Control: Using an RFID card to enter a building.
o Technical Term: Active RFID (battery-powered, longer range) vs. Passive RFID (no battery,
powered by reader's signal, shorter range).
2. Sensor Networks:
o Explanation: A network of spatially distributed autonomous devices (sensors) that
cooperatively monitor physical or environmental conditions, such as temperature, sound,
pressure, motion, or pollution.
o Role in IoT: The "eyes and ears" of IoT. They collect raw data from the physical world.

o Example:
  Smart Agriculture: Soil moisture sensors in a field transmit data wirelessly to a
central hub, allowing for precise irrigation.
 Smart City: Environmental sensors on streetlights monitor air quality and traffic
noise.
o Technical Term: Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) refers to a network where the sensors
communicate wirelessly with each other and a gateway.
3. ZigBee Technologies:
o Explanation: A low-power, low-data-rate, wireless mesh networking standard based on the
IEEE 802.15.4 specification. It's designed for long battery life and secure networking.
o Role in IoT: Ideal for connecting a large number of low-power devices in a home or building
automation system.

o Characteristics:
 Mesh Networking: Devices can relay data for other devices, creating a robust
network that doesn't rely on a central point.
 Low Power Consumption: Devices can run for years on a single battery.
 Low Data Rate: Suitable for sending small packets of data (e.g., temperature
readings, on/off commands).
o Example: Connecting smart light bulbs, door locks, and thermostats in a smart home
network.
4. GPS (Global Positioning System):
o Explanation: A satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information
to a GPS receiver anywhere on Earth.
o Role in IoT: Provides precise location data for mobile IoT devices and assets.
o Example:
 Fleet Management: Tracking the real-time location of delivery trucks to optimize
routes.
 Asset Tracking: Locating high-value equipment in a large construction site.
 Wearables: Fitness trackers and smartwatches use GPS to track the user's running or
cycling routes.
o Technical Term: Geofencing is a key application, where alerts are triggered when a GPS-
enabled device enters or exits a predefined geographical boundary.
5.3 Innovative Applications with the Internet of Things
The combination of these enabling technologies with cloud computing has given rise to a wave of
innovative applications across various industries.
1. Health Care

 ECG Analysis in Cloud and its Access:

 o Application: Wearable ECG monitors (e.g., a smart patch or a device like the Apple Watch)
continuously collect and transmit a patient's heart rhythm data.
o Process:
1. Data Collection: The ECG sensor on the wearable device records heart activity.
2. Data Transmission: The device sends the ECG data (often via a smartphone) to a
secure cloud platform.

3. Cloud Analysis: The cloud platform uses advanced AI/ML algorithms to analyze the
ECG data in real-time. It can detect anomalies like Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) or other
arrhythmias.
4. Alerting and Access: If an anomaly is detected, the system automatically sends an
alert to the patient, their caregiver, or their physician. The physician can then access
the full historical ECG data from anywhere using a secure web portal or mobile app
to make a diagnosis.
o Benefits:
 Proactive Monitoring: Enables continuous monitoring of patients outside of a
hospital setting.

 Early Detection: Allows for early detection of serious cardiac conditions.

 Improved Patient Care: Physicians have access to a complete, long-term record of a
patient's heart activity, leading to better diagnostic accuracy.
2. CRM and ERP: Business and Consumer Application
 CRM (Customer Relationship Management):
o Business Application: IoT devices provide rich data to enhance CRM.
 Example: A car manufacturer's CRM system receives real-time data from a car's
embedded sensors. If a check engine light turns on, the CRM system can
automatically create a service ticket, notify the owner, and even pre-order the
necessary parts for the nearest dealership.
 Benefit: Provides a more complete and proactive view of the customer, enabling
predictive maintenance and personalized service.
 ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning):
o Business Application: IoT sensors provide real-time operational data to the ERP system,
improving efficiency and decision-making.

 Example: In a manufacturing plant, sensors on assembly line machines monitor their

performance. This data is fed into the ERP system, which can automatically trigger a
maintenance request if a machine shows signs of impending failure, order more raw
materials when inventory levels drop, or adjust production schedules based on real-
time output.
 Benefit: Increases operational efficiency, reduces downtime, and optimizes supply
chain management.
5.4 Benefits of Cloud Platforms
These are some of the key cloud platforms and their benefits, representing different models and
philosophies of cloud computing.
Amazon EC2 and S3
 Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud):
o Benefit: IaaS platform that provides resizable virtual servers (instances) on demand.

o Key Features:
 Elasticity: Easily scale instances up or down to meet changing compute needs.
 Flexibility: A vast selection of instance types optimized for different workloads (e.g.,
compute-optimized, memory-optimized).
 Full Control: Provides administrative access to the OS, allowing for complete
customization.
 Integration: Seamlessly integrates with the entire AWS ecosystem.
 Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service):

o Benefit: Object storage service that offers scalability, data availability, security, and
performance.

o Key Features:
 Virtually Unlimited Storage: Store any amount of data.
 High Durability: Designed for 99.999999999% durability of objects over a year.
 Cost-Effectiveness: Pay-as-you-go pricing with different storage classes optimized for
access frequency (e.g., S3 Standard, Glacier).
 Accessibility: Accessible via HTTP/REST APIs from anywhere.

CloudStack
 Benefit: An open-source, multi-cloud, IaaS platform that is used for building and managing private,
public, and hybrid cloud environments.
 Key Features:
o Simplicity: Designed for ease of use with a user-friendly interface for managing virtual
machines and infrastructure.
o Unified Management: Provides a single platform to manage compute, storage, and
networking resources across multiple hypervisors (e.g., KVM, VMware).
o Scalability: Built to scale from small deployments to large-scale, multi-data center
environments.
o Turnkey Solution: Offers a more integrated, "all-in-one" approach compared to other open-
source alternatives.
Intercloud
  Benefit: A conceptual model for a global "cloud of clouds" that interconnects multiple distinct cloud
environments (from different providers). It aims to provide seamless resource sharing and workload
migration across a federation of clouds.
 Key Features:
o Vendor Lock-in Avoidance: Provides the flexibility to move workloads and data between
providers.
o Increased Resilience: Distributes risk across multiple cloud providers.
o Optimized Resource Brokering: Allows for the automated placement of workloads on the
most cost-effective or performant cloud at any given time.
o Global Scalability: Access to a combined resource pool far larger than any single provider.

Google App Engine

 Benefit: A fully managed, serverless PaaS (Platform as a Service) for building and hosting web
applications.
 Key Features:
o Automatic Scaling: Automatically scales the application to handle traffic spikes.
o Zero Management: Developers focus on code; Google manages the OS, runtime, and
underlying infrastructure.
o Built-in Services: Provides a rich set of built-in APIs and services for databases, caching, task
queues, and logging.
o Cost-Effectiveness: Free tiers and a pay-for-what-you-use model that eliminates the cost of
idle servers.

OpenStack
 Benefit: A powerful, open-source cloud management platform that provides a comprehensive set of
services for building and managing private and public IaaS cloud environments.
 Key Features:
o Modular Architecture: Composed of many interconnected services (e.g., Nova for compute,
Swift for object storage, Neutron for networking) that can be deployed independently.
o Flexibility and Customization: Highly customizable, allowing organizations to choose and
configure components to meet specific needs.
o Massive Community: Has a large and active global community, leading to rapid
development and extensive support.
o APIs: Provides a rich set of APIs for controlling infrastructure, enabling deep integration and
automation.
OpenNebula
 Benefit: An open-source cloud management platform focused on simplicity and flexibility, ideal for
building private, hybrid, and edge computing clouds.

 Key Features:
 o Hybrid Cloud Support: Enables integration with public cloud providers like AWS and Azure,
allowing for easy creation of hybrid cloud environments.
o Lightweight and Modular: Designed to be lightweight and easy to install and manage.
o Virtualization Support: Supports a wide range of hypervisors (KVM, VMware, Xen).
o Simplified Management: Offers a user-friendly web interface and API for day-to-day
administration.

o Focused on On-premises: Often favored by organizations looking to build an on-premises

cloud that can easily extend to public clouds.

This document provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and platforms shaping cloud computing,
from the convergence with ubiquitous computing and IoT to the benefits of key commercial and open-
source platforms.