The Virtual Desktop
icekin — Mon, 2006/03/20 - 19:20
This is a completely untested idea that struck me, and probably several others as well. Its more like science fiction, but is theoretically possible except that it would cost too much. In the future, such an idea might come about after all. I welcome any discussion on this subject and would like to know what others think of it as well.
Contents
1. Introduction
5. Future
1. Introduction
Since the beginning of the WWW, the idea of an on line OS has been brought up on several occasions. This means, a person should be able to log into a service through a program window or website and be launched into an interactive window resembling a desktop. All the work done on the desktop and the files saved should be kept on an on line server, ready to be retrieved the next time the person logs in. The idea isn't too far fetched. Virtual desktop solutions like VNC Viewer and PC Anywhere allowed a person to access his home PC's desktop from anywhere in the world. However, this still requires the person to own a computer, which has to be left switched on to be running the VNC server. Not very energy saving and the user's experience depends heavily on the speed of the connection he is on. While VNC viewer has worked well even on speeds as low as 28.8 kbps, there is bound to be a lag in desktop refreshing as more applications are launched on the server.
Microsoft introduced desktop sharing in Windows XP, but once again the person required a computer to be turned on, and could only access his desktop from another machine running Windows XP. What many wanted was an on line OS that functioned with the ease and efficiency of free email services like Hotmail and Yahoo. A user should be able to sign up for a free account, get a certain amount of space, log in and find his desktop back the way he left it, with the same wallpaper and settings. The user should be able to control the this virtual desktop with the same power as a normal desktop, meaning being able to run install and run new applications as well.
2. Possible Problems
While all this sounds nice, some may find it unrealistic. An application like this does not exist currently and a person looking to implement this idea will face the following problems:
a. High Cost
An average user today at least needs 20 to 30 GB of hard disk space, so if the service started out with 3000 beta users,they would already have to purchase about 90,000 GB worth of space. Even using the concept of shared space, at least one third the amount, i.e. 30,000 GB would have to be purchased. In addition, some users will sign up for multiple accounts to increase the amount of space they have. Users might also need more space as they regularly use their computers to download music, videos etc. all of which are large and fill up space fast. Bandwidth usage will also be high.
If each user is to have complete control over their OS, then the service provider would in effect have to give each user their own computer. Even a powerful computer can only run one OS at a time.
Possible Solutions
A possible way to get around this would be to store only one copy of files or installed programs that are common. For example, many people have the same copy of a song or a movie on their computer. Several users use the same software. Some would argue that this would mean having to look at the user's file collection, which might be a breach of privacy. If the process is automated and no human ever had to see a user's collection, privacy can be maintained. This has been implemented by Google in displaying context based ads in Gmail and on websites. Some profit ideas are discussed below.
i) One way to earn money from providing this kind of service would be to collect statistics on users' usage of computers. With the entire system under the control of the service provider, very accurate statistics can be provided. This would be valuable to organizations writing software and developing user oriented applications.
ii) Ads can be shown to users, maybe in the form of a changing text ad on a portion of the user's virtual desktop.
b. Piracy
In order to give a user the same freedom he would get in using a regular computer, no restrictions must be placed on the types of files to be accessed or programs to be installed. So, pirated movies, software and games will surely be used by a large number of users. Since the files can be transferred quickly between accounts, as they are all in the same system, piracy will become easier than before.
c. Providing a Fast Service
Certain applications will take up high amount of processing power, like a CAD software. Showing the desktop display on the user's computer screen at a good resolution and quality, with minimal lag, even on a low speed Internet connection is a challenge. If a person suddenly decides to click on a .avi file and watch a movie, the entire system would in effect be streaming a video to the end user.
d. Needs Internet Connection
This idea relies on an extensive network of computers and Internet access being available everywhere. This is not really so much of a problem since Internet access is now available quite widely in all countries, even third world nations. In the future, computer and Internet access may become like pay phones. A person might find computer booths along the road side where one can insert some coins and use the machine and the Internet for a period of time. While pay phones are being replaced by cellphones today, computers will be harder to replace will small portable devices. A phone only delivers voice so it can be minituarized, but a computer provides visual content, which is ideally presented on large screens. Unless someone discovers a way to provide desktop PC level visual experience in a handy small device, the concept of pay to use computers and cyber cafes will exist.
I recently came across this prototype of a miniature computer. If implemented, it could increase the reason to have an full online OS.
3. Possible Benefits
a. Increased Public Access to Computers
The main benefit would be computer access to all. Even people who can't afford to buy computers can learn how to use them. People can access this virtual computer of theirs from anywhere in the world. The virtual PC is more easily portable than a laptop. It does not require to be carried around or charged regularly. It can taken through any country's customs without having to pay heavy import duties.
b. No Need to Upgrade Machines
A common issue for PC owners has been to continually upgrade their machines to be able to use newer software or a newer OS. However, free email services have always stayed up to date by offering newer features like improved composing options, larger storage, RSS feeds reader, address book, notepad etc. So, if a company were to provide free virtual PC access to all, then possibly they can also upgrade the level of the service regularly to provide access to new software as well.
c. Faster File Sharing
Since everyone's virtual computer is stored in the same room of servers, transferring files from one virtual computer to another would be quick. In reality though the file would simply be shared for another user to use rather than actually getting transferred. A second copy of file would have to be created only if one of the users decides to change the contents of the file.
d. Portable Desktop Settings
The user can carry his settings anywhere. The computer he is using to access the virtual PC need not have any software installed, just a browser and an Internet connection.
4. The Current Trend
This idea I've outlined may not happen in a while, but several companies on line are offering free services through the browser that are similar to stand alone desktop applications in terms of functionality. I've outlined some of them here. Several of these run on AJAX, which uses java script to provide dynamic effects on the page, like you would get with an actual desktop OS. Some services uses flash to achieve the same effect.
Note: If you come across any other such applications, please inform me and I will add it here. It should preferably be free to use, at least on a trial period.
a. Portals
Many of Yahoo's tools are like applications you would find on a computer. An on line email client, address book, notepad and calendar has been offered for a long time. Briefcase allows for file storage on line, though capacity is limited at 30 MB and you can't access the file instantly as you would on your hard drive. Yahoo's my Web 2.0 allows sharing of bookmarks. Del.icio.us has also been recently acquired by Yahoo. Yahoo 360 allows for aggregating news and other information in a single page, like you would with a stand alone RSS reader. Flickr allows for keeping an album on line. There is no limit on capacity of storage, only bandwidth used. There is also a Java version of the Yahoo messenger which can be launched through a browser. Yahoo games offers some single player and mostly multi player board and strategy games.
Google offers email, and more recently an address book. An on line messenger is available that is run through AJAX. Google offers lesser services than Yahoo, but is known for making better solutions. I expect them to take their time to become a full blown portal like Yahoo, but when they get there, they would probably have a better product to offer.
The other major player in the portal market. MSN has very strong financial backing and have recently introduced Windows Live. I haven't tried the service yet, but it is likely to have a dynamic interface as well.
b. Online Office Suites
These services attempt to provide a on line Office suite in which a person can create, edit and save documents.
An on line editor that support word processed files, spreadsheets and power point presentations.
Free on line spreadsheet program. Also see ajaxXLS for a similar application.
Now owned by google, also a word processor program. Only a few users at the moment. Other online word processors include Zoho Writer and ajax Write.
This is a tool to make slide presentations on line.
This is a tool to make free flowcharts and diagrams. Its very much like Inkspace and Visio.
c. Other Programs
Maxigate lets you create your own desktop to integrate all the other online solutions presented here. These programs are launched within Maxigate and hence you can have your own online OS with some limited functions.
This is a on line messenger that logs the user into AIM, Yahoo, MSN and Google/Jabber accounts all at once. AJAX powered and feels just like a desktop application to use, including ability to minimize, drag and drop.
A window online that functions as an IDE with highlighting for various syntaxes.
Much like the diff program and can be used to compare the contents of two text files.
A site that offers ability to maintain an online account of check book expenses. Many banks offer e Banking, so this service is not really needed. A better way would be to able to maintain an account of personal expenses online.
An online image editor. AJAX powered, so has an interactive desktop like interface. Very simple features for now, so can't really be compared to a image editing program like photoshop or even irfanview.
This lets you literally place electronic post it notes all over the web on any site you visit to act as later reference.
This attempts to provide an easier interface to browse and search Wikipedia. Open within an existing browser Window.
In addition, a number of web 2.0 programs like those reviewed on Techcrunch attempt to provide an online OS. A possible and desirable next step in the process would be to integrate the several services outlined above into a single interface to resemble more of an OS. I expect this is already happening at Google who have purchased Writley and might buy or build more AJAX based tools in the future. They integrated the chat feature into Gmail only a few months back, so next they might extend to providing a full featured word processor and ability to store word processed documents, spread sheets and presentations online.
5. The Future
More interactive applications resembling a desktop's usability will be formed. With AJAX and other such technologies emerging quickly, there is less of a need to depend on Macromedia's propreitary flash or use Java applets to produce interactivity online. AJAX also works on a much wider set of browsers and does not need separate plugins. Several CMS are alrady starting to incorporate AJAX into them, including the recent MODx, a CMS fully built around AJAX.
A full online OS like I suggested might not happen unless hard disk space becomes extremly cheap and internet infrastructure improves vastly to provide high speed connections to all regions. If inventions like this pen computer seen here hit the market, then the idea of an online OS will become more practical since a full sized display can be obtained even on the move. Perhaps, in a decade or so, we can get closer to a virtual desktop than we are now. Till then, VNC will have to do.
