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An information cloud (or '''info cloud''') is a term used to describe large amounts of information within a certain area or space. This can be a physical space or it can be used to define an abstract model in order to illustrate a related area of interest or context.


NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS


Within the field of network communications the term information cloud is used to represent an abstract form of the network architecture. It is often shown as an illustration or diagram as part of a Wide Area Network (WAN) for example.


MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS


Within the field of mobile communications the information cloud defines the communication range of your mobile device, also known as communication horizon.

A group of German scientists and students at the Darmstadt University Of Technology developed an innovative model for Peer-to-peer interaction based on iClouds. The motivation behind this concept was based on following idea: "Whenever there is a group of people, they may share a common goal or have a related motivation. Information of interest may be in possession of only a few of them." 1
The goal of iClouds is to make this information available to the whole group, based on individual user contribution, through peer-to-peer communication and data exchange.


THE INTERNET


Thomas Vander Wal is one of the main contributors towards the definition of information clouds.
He identified four different types of clouds in his work "Understanding the Personal Info Cloud: Using the Model of Attraction", 2004. 2

He identified the following clouds:
  • the Global information cloud (the internet, unlimited access, not user controlled, not user organized)

  • the External information cloud (membership access, behind a firewall, sharing difficult)

  • the Local information cloud ( Local Area Network (LAN), membership access, not user controlled, not user organized)

  • and the Personal information cloud (access from anywhere, User organized and controlled, portability).


The personal information cloud is a container for all personal information that we create/store and gather throughout our interactions within our communication world. This is the only cloud which is accessible at all times, where the user manages and defines all content and the only cloud that follows the user everywhere. The content can be enhanced by adding Metadata to achieve effective access and reusable information that can be shared.


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