Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2011 about Cloud Computing on Monday 14th March

There’s no topic with more buzz around it than the “cloud.” However, for all the aspects of our social and commercial lives we entrust to the cloud, at the same time we surrender our data, and increasingly our memories and finances, to others. Who controls that data, who protects it and who ensures our privacy? There are however possibilities for creating one’s own cloud, and retaining a measure control over off-site data and services, both software and hardware based. We’ll explore a number of solutions to the notion of a personal cloud, and the trade-offs inherent in that choice.

LEVEL: Intermediate

No one can deny the impact technology has made in our lives over the past decade. We now have devices that can aid us in multiple activities within all avenues of our lives. With the advent of cloud technologies, these devices have become more pervasive and ubiquitous than ever before. This perfect storm provides an opportunity for developers and designers to create multi-screen solutions that take full advantage of the capabilities of their mediums to provide end users with a seamless and, more importantly, useful experience. Over the course of this workshop, we will explore best practices for developers and designers to create compelling experiences that span across multiple platforms. Discover how the cloud can not only change HOW you work, but the valuable services you can extend through products to your customers.

LEVEL: Intermediate

Popular brands like celebrity gossip site TMZ and News Corp's iPad news app The Daily run on Crowd Fusion -- entirely in Amazon's cloud. Join Crowd Fusion CEO Brian Alvey and Warner Bros/Telepictures SVP of Digital Media Bob Mohler and learn how cloud computing has graduated from geek hobby to mainstream business use. You'll hear real stories of successes and failures from the trenches, plus find the answers to all of your cloud questions in our Q&A

After many years there now appears to be agreement from traditional software vendors to web-based companies that we are now shifting from the desktop to the cloud. Is there truly harmony in the industry or are there still disagreements over how the cloud is delivered and utilized? This panel of cloud pioneers and experts will debate the state of cloud computing and where its future lies. Where does the cloud stand for consumers vs. the enterprise? How do mobile, social and open trends impact the cloud? And what is the future of the cloud – will one cloud win out over all others or will there be seamless data sharing across multiple clouds of a customer’s choice?

Cloud computing is finally coming out of the trough of disillusionment along the hype cycle. Is it really possible to live your life in the clouds? Can you ditch the desktop? Can you buck the backup? Come learn about the state-of-the-art in untethered cloud computing services that will lighten your life and make any computer personal.

LEVEL: Beginner