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CLOUD COMPUTING WITHOUT SIGHT
Andrew Pouleson (ajp99@pitt.edu)
In recent years, a new form of computing called cloud
computing began to gain more and more popularity. Peter
Mell and Timothy Grance of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology defined cloud computing as “… a
model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand
network access to a shared pool of configurable computing
resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and
services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with
minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
This cloud model is composed of five essential
characteristics, three service models, and four deployment
models” [3]. That is a wordy way of saying cloud computing
uses a server to make a melting pot of files that are available
to everyone on the cloud. This form of computing is now
possible because of the advances in wireless connections and
internet speeds [4]. Cloud computing does not just stop at
files either; anything can be stored on the cloud. Entire
programs and services are all accessible to anyone on the
cloud.
INTRODUCTION: THE NEW FORM OF
COMPUTING
The internet encompasses almost every aspect of
people’s lives. From forecasting the weather to connecting
friends, it provides more services than ever imagined. Soon
the internet will not only contain massive amounts of videos
and flash games, but it will also house our hard drives. The
day is nearing when computers will no longer contain a hard
disk and instead will save everything to a server called a
cloud so the data can be accessed on any computer at any
time. The idea of not having physical representation of files
seems to unnerve people, and for a good reason.
Cybersecurity. Are the files safe? Will they be stolen?
With current computers, the answers to these questions are
undesirable, but with future technology the answer will be
much more comforting. Quantum computers have the
ability to provide a safe connection to a virtual cloud while
also delivering speeds incomparably faster than the digital
computers of today.
As engineers we cannot ethically standby while the
current cybersecurity faults exist. It is stated in the code of
ethics for software engineering that engineers must first have
society’s best interested in mind [1]. Since the current status
of cybersecurity is unsafe, we as engineers are mandated to
do everything in our power to protect the people from harm
even though it is not physical. Secondly, software and
computer engineers must follow their clients concern while
keeping it consistent with the public’s interest [1]. Cyberattacks will not only hurt individuals but it will also harm
businesses. Attacks on a business’s infrastructure can be
crippling. For these reasons, progress in the field of
computer security is not only necessary, but mandatory.
Throughout my education I have always had an
immense interest in computers. For this reason I have been
leaning towards the field of computer engineering, and more
specifically the programming and implementation of
hardware and computing systems. Naturally quantum
computers came to mind when choosing a topic because of
the wide variety of possible applications. As an aspiring
computer engineer, this will be a problem that I will
potentially want to solve. Considering this, it makes sense
to have me write a paper on a topic that lets me see what my
education is moving towards [2]. It gives my courses
relevance so I will know why I am learning what I am being
taught.
The Good: For Business
What are some other benefits of having a cloud? From
a business standpoint, cloud computing will drastically
reduce the amount of IT related expenditures [4]. First off,
cloud computing changes the current IT model so that some
of the old IT responsibilities are now automatically handled
by the cloud provider. These responsibilities include
hardware and software installation, upgrades, maintenance,
backup, data storage, and security. Businesses can now buy
the top technological equipment with the money they are not
spending on IT [4]. Gary Garrison writes “Cloud services
also include environments for applications development and
access to key technologies, software, and skilled IT
personnel that might otherwise be too costly and difficult to
obtain and maintain” [4]. A survey noted that 39.7% of
companies that switched to cloud computing did it for the
cost savings [4]. Besides saving a business’s money, cloud
computing will also make them more productive. By
lowering the costs of IT and no longer maintaining an IT
infrastructure, a business can move all its freed up resources
to core business activities. This could make a business more
competitive in their field [4]. Besides benefiting businesses,
cloud computing also benefits individuals.
Ethics: Business
As a software engineer, I would have to report to my
client if a system or project will end up costing too much
COMPUTING IN THE SKY
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October 10, 2012
Andrew Pouleson
money or fail [1]. It would ethically be my job to identify
that their current system is wasting resources and is not built
to last. Cloud computing would be a way to fix their current
infrastructure.
This solidifies my opinion that cloud
computing is a viable option for businesses.
differ in many ways, but most importantly they are different
in their method of computation.
Computers of Today
Digital computers use chip sets made up of many small
transistors that allow computation to be done. The more
transistors there are the more powerful the computer tends to
become [7]. There is, however, an inherent problem with
this model. Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, predicted
that the amount of transistors on a processor would double
about every two years. This prediction, which has held up
for half a century, is known as Moore’s Law [7]. From the
beginning, Moore’s Law had a visible end because it
predicted transistors would eventually become the size of an
atom. Once transistors reach this point, there is nowhere to
go [7]. At this point engineers will need a new way to make
computers more powerful.
The Good: Personal Use
On a personal level, cloud computing will also change
the way people buy, and use their personal computers. A
computer that completely uses cloud computing will not
need the massive hard drives found in computers today.
This means the cost of computers that use a cloud operating
system, such as a chrome book, will be less than their noncloud equivalents [5]. In addition to cost, the functionality
of day to day computing will also benefit. Here is a
scenario: a student working on a very important project with
a rapidly approaching deadline accidentally drops his laptop
and destroys the screen. How will he finish the project?
With a non-cloud computer he will need to find a way to get
his project off the hard drive without the use of a screen, but
if he was using a cloud computer then he does not need to
worry. Most clouds enable you to access your files and
applications from any computer at any time; even if a noncloud computer has to be used. Thanks to cloud computing,
the project will be turned in on time. As a student who has
had this very scenario happen to me, I wish I had a cloud at
the time. Computers with standard hard drives simply
cannot compare to the functionally of a cloud.
The Basis of Quantum Computers
This is where quantum computing comes in. Quantum
computers take advantage of the properties of quantum
mechanics, as opposed to digital computers which only use
classical mechanics. In quantum mechanics, electrons
exhibit a property known as superposition [7]. Normally,
electrons are in one of two states. They are either in a
ground state or an excited state which is governed by the
amount of energy the electron processes. The third state that
electrons can obtain, noted earlier as superposition, is one in
which it is both excited and grounded at the same time [7].
This is the basis of quantum computing, and where digital
and quantum computers differ drastically.
The Bad
The benefits of a cloud are numerous, but there is one
detriment that is problematic: security. Since all of the data
is stored on a server and not housed inside a plastic case at
home, there is a possibility of information being
compromised [5]. Hacking is prevalent wherever the
internet is involved. A cloud company could lose all their
credibility after one big attack on their customer’s personal
information. With the way computers are set up now, a
company would have to spend 46.6 billion dollars just to
stop 95% of attacks [6]. Most companies do not have this
kind of money to be throwing around. Not to mention this
means 1 out of 20 attacks would still get through [6]. So
how do we create a secure cloud? Quantum computers offer
a potential solution called blind quantum computing. Blind
quantum computing would create a secure link between the
user’s computer and the cloud server that would be
unhackable by a non-quantum computer [5].
Digital vs. Quantum
Digital computers use bits to represent data. Bits can
hold one of two possible values; 1 signifying true, or 0
which means false [7]. Quantum computers on the other
hand use qubits. David Deutsch and Artur Ekert describe
qubits as “…an object in which such states (superposition)
can be reliably prepared, measured and manipulate” [7].
What does this mean for data storage? This means that
qubits can hold the values of 0 and 1 simultaneously [7].
This magnifies a computer’s abilities exponentially.
Speed of Quantum Computers
All computers use specific instructions to solve
problems. These specific instructions come in the form of
commands that form an algorithm.
An algorithm’s
efficiency is measured by how rapidly the time it takes to
complete its job increases when there is n number of values.
This factor is described in “big O” notation [7]. For
instance, an algorithm that sorts a list of numbers might have
a big O notation of O(n^2), which means the time it takes to
COMPUTERS OF TOMORROW
Quantum computers are much different than the
computers of today. The computers that are currently in use
are called digital computers. Quantum and digital computers
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Andrew Pouleson
sort a large list of numbers is extremely higher than a small
list. O(n^2) is considered a fairly efficient algorithm [7].
Quantum computers allow new approaches to algorithms
that were previously impossible or extremely inefficient.
For example, the fastest know classical method to factoring
an n-digit integer into prime numbers has an O(2^n) which is
terribly inefficient. The quantum version of the same
algorithm has an efficiency rating of O(n^2) [7]. It should
be noted that not all quantum algorithms have a dramatic
increase over their digital counterparts [7].
The Sad Truth
The benefits of a blind quantum computer are obvious,
so what is stopping companies from implementing it? Well
the problem with all quantum computing is the extreme
experimental nature of the topic. As of now quantum
computers are confined to laboratories. On top of this, the
only people that can afford blind quantum computers are
governments, mega-corporations, and the military [3]. For
this reason, a lot of experimentation and cost reduction must
happen before we ever see qubits in our homes.
SECURE BLIND CONNECTIONS
EDUCATION AND ETHICS
As noted before, blind quantum computing would allow
a cloud to be accessed in a completely secure state. To do
this, quantum computers use another property of quantum
mechanics called entanglement [5]. Entanglement does
exactly what its name implies; it “entangles” data into a
completely random state so an eavesdropper cannot
understand what the data means [8].
The use of instructional strategies to teach ethics, which
include writing assessment, are practical options when
teaching ethics in engineering [2]. This is normally part of a
curriculum that teaches ethics in an embedded fashion, such
as Pitt’s program. I believe that writing assessment is a
good way to teach us about both ethics and the type of
engineering that we are interested in. It does the first by
allowing us to find our stance on a potential moral dilemma
and apply the codes of ethics from different governing
bodies to see if our stance is ethical [2]. If it is not then we
get to explore the reasons why it is not, and find a way that
makes it ethical. The second is achieved by the research and
time that is put into such papers. If we have to put a large
quantity of hours into a paper than it will make it much
easier if we find a topic that interests us [2]. Papers should
not be the only strategy involved in teaching ethics however
or else the students could lose the complexity of an actual
engineer’s work [2]. Papers are a valid way to teach
students about ethics but should not be the only strategy
used.
Entanglement and the Loss of Sight
With entanglement, quantum computers can do
computation of data without ever knowing what the real
number they are working with is. When applied to cloud
computing, a blind quantum computer is made. A blind
quantum computer receives entangled data from a user
through the internet and does the calculations “blindly”
without ever untangling the data [8]. In doing so it makes it
literally impossible for anyone, other than the sender, to
know what the data actually represents, and that includes the
quantum computer doing the work [5]. The best part of it all
is the sender can be using a digital computer and it will still
work all the same [8]. To do this, engineers need to find a
way to produce qubits at home with the user. This way the
data can be entangled before the passage through the web
and all the computation can be done by a powerful quantum
computer in a secure location [5]. This would make cloud
computing entirely secure.
CONCLUSION
Although cloud computing presents a few road blocks I
believe that it is the future of home and business computing.
For personal use, cloud computing allows us to access our
files and applications from any computer. From a business
standpoint, cloud computing will reduce IT expenditures and
increase company productivity. With the help of quantum
computers, cloud computing will become a safe alternative
to keeping data stored on a hard drive. For this reason
quantum computers make cloud computing entirely ethical.
Hopefully one day I will help make cloud computing a safe
option for everyone.
Ethics: Security
The IEEE Code of Ethics states that an engineer must
“…accept responsibility in making engineering decisions
consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public,
and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the
public or the environment” [9]. The internet does not fit all
of these criteria, and therefore it must be constantly worked
on. Therefore, if there is a possible solution to the current
problems then it must be pursued [9]. Since, blind quantum
computers have the potential to fix these complications it
definitely a possible solution for cybersecurity and more
specifically cloud computing.
REFERENCES
[1] D. Gotterbarn, K. Miller, S. Rogerson (1999) “Software
Engineering Code of Ethics is Approved.” Communications
of the ACM (Online Article). pp. 102-107
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[2] J. Li, S. Fu (2012) “A Systematic Approach to
Engineering Ethics Education.” Science and Engineering
Ethics. DOI: 10.1007/s11948-010-9249-8 pp. 339-349
[3] P. Mell, T. Grance (2011). The NIST definition of cloud
computing.
Special
Publication
800-145.
http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-145/sp800145.pdf
[4] G. Garrison, S. Kim, R. Wakefield (2012). “Success
Factors for Deploying Cloud Computing.” Communications
Of
The
ACM.
(Online
article).
DOI:10.1145/2330667.2330685
[5] C. Nicholson (2012). “The next big thing in computers.”
Smart
Planet.
(Online
article).
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/thinking-tech/the-nextbig-thing-in-computers/9979
[6] “The Cybersecurity Risk.” (2012). Communications of
the ACM. (Online Article). DOI:10.1145/2184319.2184330
pp. 29-32
[7] D. Deutsch, A. Ekert (2012) “Beyond the Quantum
Horizon.” Scientific American. (Online Article) pp. 84-89
[8] J. Miller “A blind quantum computer makes its
laboratory debut” (2012). Physics Today. (Online Article).
DOI: 10.1063/PT.3.1464 pp. 21-22
[9] “Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineeris (IEEE)
Code of Ethics” (2005) Encyclopedia of Science,
Technology, and Ehtic. pp. 2188-2189
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