@RogerRenteria

Seeking Sunshine inCloud Technology

Roger Renteria

Rochester Chapter

About

• Roger Renteria• Bachelor of Science,

Technical Communication• New Mexico Tech

• Computers, Web, Technology• Early Adopter

Overview

• Brief cloud history– From Mainframes to Data Centers

• What we use– Programs, Services, Apps

• Plan for transition– Add the cloud element

• Avoid the washout– Ride out the storms

Business As Usual?

• “…with everything I have to learn, I don’t know whether I’ll ever grasp all that I need to know.”

Origins

Flickr / scriptingnews

Punch Cards Photo / NASA

Flickr / ajmexico

Data Centers

Flickr / schluesselbein

Plan to Soar

Flickr / nasahqphoto

Where do I start?

• Search for cloud technologies that are out in the wild

• Does it add or replace some of my tools?• SOS: Who can help me?• Can I afford to change?• Will this cost me more or less money?• Is this worth my time and effort?

What tools are out there?

• Storage and Physical Replacements• Collaboration and Productivity• Remote Printing• Writing and Research• General Internet Tools

TechComm toolkit

• We can install cloud tools on our computers

Boxbox.com

DropBoxdropbox.com

Google Voicevoice.google.com

Evernoteevernote.com

OneDriveonedrive.live.com

Office Onlineoffice.live.com

Pandorapandora.com

Google Hangoutshangouts.google.com

Google Drivedrive.google.com

Making the Move

• Gradual? (Majority)– Preferred.– Start out slowly, like you would normally.– Make use of the free trials and free service!

• Instant? (Early Adopters)– Not recommended!– If you feel comfortable.– It may not be the tool you want to stick with forever.

• Never? (Laggards)– If we don't soar into the clouds, we risk getting behind in our

profession.

What works? What doesn’t?

• Cost– free vs. fee

• Time and energy– convenience vs. motivation

• Testing or experimenting– Were the changes a significant benefit?– Were you able to easily learn new software?– Were the nifty features helpful for you?

Cloud Printing

Tale of Two

Printers

Flickr / mark_gilmour

Up In The Clouds

Flickr / alifetale

Actual TechComm Cloud Use

• Remote shared drive for MadCap Flare• Develop documentation with Google Docs and

Markdown• Full computer backup• Video conferencing and chat• Purchasing software as a service (SaaS)• Printing remotely

Ride the Storms

Avoid Cutting It Close

• Data portability or extractability• Password recovery• Data recovery• Security and accessibility• Accept the risks sometimes

Future Clouds

Flickr / oceanflynn

@RogerRenteria

http://writetechie.com

Seeking Sunshine inCloud Technology

Roger Renteria

Rochester Chapter