|
Virtually Anything
Recently, we’ve been exploring the
Storage and Storage Software market, which we believe is becoming
more important, both in its role in computer systems, and in the
kinds of companies who are choosing to implement major strategies
(for example, IBM and now, HP, especially with its new HP/Compaq
combined strategy).
In doing that, we’re
getting to look at a lot of virtualization.
One storage software vendor carefully observed that while
everyone talks a lot about virtualizing storage, the concept is
still in its early days of widespread implementation. (In storage,
virtualization means allowing data to be stored anywhere on the
system, perhaps spread across many locations, but to be accessed
as if it were right there, in a single, convenient place.)
But most vendors, hardware and software, are fairly certain
that this portion of the market is at the beginning of a long,
steep growth curve.
That was when we noticed that the
virtualization concept seemed to be spreading.
In itself, that isn’t surprising.
Technology vendors must have trouble thinking of enough
cool concepts, because when they find one they like, they try to
apply it nearly everywhere. In
this case, some of the ideas are pretty interesting.
 |
You will already have heard of the idea
of virtualizing servers and processing.
Whether you can take advantage of this really depends
on whether your software (operating system, middleware, and
applications) will permit an application or a process to be
divided over multiple processors with the results
successfully merged.
|
|
The concept of a virtual workplace (a
term now used by several vendors, offering support for
distributed workers via portals, collaboration, or wireless
interfaces) has caught on.
We’d like to suggest that portals are, in general,
a form of virtualization.
Information, applications, and messages arrive from
various sources, but for the worker who receives them at a
personal portal, they all appear to be right here, in a
virtual desktop. Appealingly,
that desktop isn’t available only at the office desktop
PC, but wherever the worker accesses computing resources via
a browser and his personal password.
|
What comes next is harder to predict –
but lots of fun.
|
Perhaps we’ll have virtual dinner
parties where we can all just eat wherever we are, but feel
that we’re sitting around the same table, sharing a lively
conversation. That
would sure beat the copy of Business Week I usually read at
better hotel dining rooms everywhere.
|
|
We could have virtual personal or group
training sessions via our pervasive device (watch, wearable
computer, ???), with instructions murmured into our ear as
we fast-walked and stretched, talked and rested.
|
|
Or what about a virtual card game for
those nights when you can’t get home for your weekly night
out with the boys (or girls)? Now if we can just figure out how to supply you with virtual
beer and pretzels . . . |
(back to top)
Comments or Questions: Send Email to
opinions@wohl.com
Home/
Search
/ 2005 Articles /
Issue Archive / Free
Newsletter
Entire contents © 2001 by Amy D. Wohl. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication in any form without prior written permission is forbidden.
|
