Published: Monday, 15th February, 2010 10:00am

The future in the clouds

by Alan Bunce

ONE thing most apparent about the Thames Valley's IT firms is their non stop march into the future.

Time and again, new firms come to the Thames Valley and advances in the world's technology come with them.

I recently spoke to one, specialising in cloud computing, the first IT buzzword I understood first time round.

It seems in future, everything from your software to your words, pictures and videos, will only exist in the cloud (well, a data centre) rather than on your computer. If your computer is stolen, no valuable data, pictures or emails are lost. Even the Government might stop losing our personal information.

The laptop, PC or even netbook is likely to become something staff will be given an allowance for - like a company car - so they can choose their own model. It need have no special software or security loaded; that's all in the cloud. Your phone system will operate through it too.

Nationally towns like Reading, Bracknell and Slough are often derided by outsiders and comedians yet in truth these places are where the technology the rest of the country relies on, is being developed.

If anywhere in the UK has anything better to offer right now, I'd like to know where it is.

* For more on the latest IT firms moving to Berkshire, see Business Review in the Reading Chronicle and Bracknell News on February 25 and the Slough Observer on February 26.

Return to: Homepage | News Index | This article