In the recent Skype update they have switched to a centralised contact list system so no matter where in the world you log in you will have your full contact list available (much like other IM software programs have had for a while).
This got me thinking. Right now we have a client/server model for the Internet. You maintain one computer with all the software running on it and you then browse the web and have content delivered at request. Your personal systems are maintained on your personal computer either at home or work, or on your mobile laptop. That’s a lot of dependency on one or few machines.
I was impressed with remote access which allowed me to log into another computer from anywhere but I don’t like that I have to have the remote computer on all the time to access it. I am also worried about security with this sort of technology since I don’t have the inclination to learn about how safe it is and ensure every precaution is taken. I want to run the software and be confident that, in general, my data is safe.
What if the client/server model shifted the significant software load on to a centralised server. The client would not host the software. Instead he or she would interface with their computer ‘profile’ on a centralised server which functions like a personal computer but hosted remotely. This centralised computer would retain all your software and settings and you could access it using a ‘lite’ terminal from anywhere in the world.
Take my computer situation. My laptop is my business. It’s also my entertainment source. It’s personalised to me. It has my software, my favourites, my music, my cookies everything that I do regarding computing is centralised on this laptop. I back up critical data but really without this one computer I’m lost. I hate that I’m dependent on this one machine. I’m a small business owner so I don’t have an IT department to manage offsite backups, local/network profiles and so forth.
Imagine if I could transfer this personal computer profile to a centralised service provided by a professional business. My computer, including the software I use, my personal settings, everything, is housed remotely and carefully monitored by said professional business. I simply log into this computer from anywhere in the world to access my remote computer and the dependency is no longer placed on my laptop. I can be confident that my data is safe, my personal settings are always available and I don’t have to worry about restoring my software and files when my machine dies or I upgrade. Backups, software upgrades and maintenance would all be provided by the hosting business on my remote profile much like current hosts do now for web site hosting. I’d pay for this service.
So why isn’t it available now? Is it because of processor/bandwidth limitations? I’m sure I’m not the first one to think of this and probably somewhere out there a service like this is available. I did a quick search but I couldn’t find anything (feel free to leave links though as I’d love to hear about any services out there like this). Perhaps it’s in development now that broadband and processors are getting powerful enough to move the software load onto the server side.
Yaro Starak
I had this idea a while back. I looked at it as a way to regain the whole Microsoft monopoly. Microsoft makes alot of their money by licensing their OS to companies that make computer systems, but imagine if you could buy a “dumb” computer… basically a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a box whose main purpose is to host a new profile settings…but is only really able to connect to the net.. thus a person can basically use any program via internet…or web-based programs. I mainly use only webbased email now.. but who knows..what about webbased wordprocessing…spreadsheets..or powerpoints?…it can be done…
Hi Jason…yes we are thinking the same although I wasn’t considering it to be a way to circumvent the Microsoft monopoly. I don’t want to worry about keeping a personalised local machine. I want everything to be hosted externally and my personal settings available via login from anywhere in the world. Basically take my current laptop setup and duplicate it onto a remote server with all the functionality of a local machine.
Yaro,
I guess the term used for this whole remote desktop idea is called “thin clients” I did a search in google for both “thin clients” and “web-based desktops” and it brought up some interesting material. I guess IBM is working on an office package that will be able to be run via a webserver.
Indeed, this system is called “thin-clients”. The system is commonly used in large companies, and server-based systems.
Sun Microsystem has a set that essentials involves a really powerful central server that hosts all the programs a user may need. On the desks in the office, there are only a monitory, a keyboard, a mouse, and a very rudimentary processing system. All the software is done on the central server. In some of these offices, a user would carry a swipe card, and then could sit down at any desk, swipe, and then pick up work where they left off.
On others server, similar systems could be run. On UNIX, a user can ssh to a server and submit commands. Using X Windows, a user can even get a graphical user interface. I have the experience of using a Konquerer browser on a remote server, through a X Windows window.
I have recently run and tested a Citrix system from a friend whos currently moved to a new employer in London.
They have a very advance remote access system running, its very secure has its got a serial code you have to enter which changes every minute.
To get the latest serial code his got a key ring that he keeps on him at all time which updates every minute with the new number.
It was fast and very secure.