Jul 31 2012
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Cloud

Technology Equalizers and the Cloud

I heard a comment recently that stated if the developed world had wanted to do more for Africa 20 years ago, the best thing they could of done would have been to invest in cellular networks for as much of the continent as the money would provide. Forget food aid, or payments that end up the hands of corrupt governments, put in modern communications infrastructure and economic development will grow from there. I had a fascinating conversation with one of my Indian colleagues who was telling me about how new ways of using older mobile technology is emerging there, for example, there is a text only version of Facebook that basically gets new money for old rope! This led me to consider what cloud computing might mean for the developing world. There are two common approaches to providing cloud infrastructure which will yield different appeals to different markets. There is the race to the top which will provide premium services at a premium price. In this day and age, the cost of not being compliant with legislation can be astronomical where as the cost of using an expert in this field who handles this specific workload for a lot of customers can be modest in comparison.

The race to the bottom will provide access to computing resources which will allow those with less to spend to complete with the more established players. Currently the market seems to be more focused on the  migration of on premise data centers to cloud data centers, managed by a service provider. While this model will continue I can’t wait to see what innovation will occur when by means of low cost compute resources and free access to training and tooling will lead to new products being created in the developing world where things haven’t yet reached an access point that can really transform the way of life.

I predict there will be a time that with low cost compute resources and mobile networks, we’ll see developing nations skip some of the costly infrastructure development that has prohibited growth up till now and we’ll see a more decentralized business model develop where markets close and abroad can be reached with new and innovative product offerings. Think the farmer in rural Africa being able to sell his crops directly to households in the western world needing only presence and a local shipping agent!

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Jun 05 2012
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Personal

Another round of Retro nostalgia: My story

So, it comes around once in a while, usually once a year or so, but this time I think it’s more special. Well, more special for me as recently we’ve seen my introduction to computing, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum celebrate it’s 30th anniversary.

Why is this important? Well, I guess getting that computer on my 5th Christmas was what introduced me to this industry, and what has ultimately become my career of choice. Interestingly though, the gift of this flagship of the home computer golden era was probably much more significant than a gift today of an XBOX, PS3 or even an Mac or PC. This post from Scott Hanselman tickles on the same subject, from a marginally different perspective.

In 1982, the ZX Spectrum was the Christmas gift of choice for many, and as a 5 year old having my own computer was something that I thought even at that innocent age was just a dream. After all, these were the preserve of businesses and the movies, they weren’t something any ordinary person had. Well, by luck through my generous parents, and my Dad having a contact that worked at Timex in Dundee, who were contracted to manufacture the ZX Spectrum, who got him jumping the wait list!

So, what was special? Well, this Register article touches on it. When you opened the box, laying there, was a couple of manuals, the most hefty of those being entitled “BASIC Programming”. This was a first class immersion into the concept of computer programming. It was total immersion, so real was the immersion that in order to load a program or game on the spectrum you were forced to type in a LOAD “” <Enter> command!

 In fact the immersion went even further than that. Rather than allow free form programming input on the original generation of ZX Spectrums, you were forced to use key combinations to create the programming keywords. Heck, they were even printed on the keys. An inquisitive child not only has programming keywords right there in their face on the keyboard but also the reference manual right there in their hand which tells them exactly what they mean.

Am sure to many, these opportunities right there were lost on plenty of spectrum users, but for a critical mass, these brought inquisitive minds into computer programming and I’d hazard a guess that this incubated an entire generation of software developer. Will we see an additional generation now that computers we use are designed to steer users away from the internals of how they work? It remains to be seen, but I for one think I am better placed in this industry because it was a passion from a young age, rather than it being something that I chose later to be my vocation.

Incidentally, its great to see the Raspberry PI pushing for a resurgence in this! I’ll be watching with interest the enthusiasm it’s adopted with. Maybe we’ll see a second coming of the child hobbyist programmer!

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