In the wake of revelations about National Security Agency activities—many of which occur “in the cloud”—this book offers both enlightenment and a critical view. Cloud computing and big data are arguably the most significant forces in information technology today. In clear prose, To the Cloud explores where the cloud originated, what it means, and how important it is for business, government, and citizens. It describes the intense competition among cloud companies like Amazon and Google, the spread of the cloud to government agencies like the controversial NSA, and the astounding growth of entire cloud cities in China. From advertising to trade shows, the cloud and big data are furiously marketed to the world, even as dark clouds loom over environmental, privacy, and employment issues that arise from the cloud. Is the cloud the long-promised information utility that will solve many of the world’s economic and social problems? Or is it just marketing hype? To the Cloud provides the first thorough analysis of the potential and the problems of a technology that may very well disrupt the world.

One of Choice’s Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014!

在国家安全局的活动--其中许多活动发生在 "云端"--被揭露之后，本书既提供了启迪，也提出了批评意见。云计算和大数据可以说是当今信息技术领域最重要的力量。在清晰的散文中，《走向云端》探讨了云的起源，它意味着什么，以及它对企业、政府和公民有多重要。它描述了像亚马逊和谷歌这样的云计算公司之间的激烈竞争，云计算向政府机构的传播，如有争议的国家安全局，以及中国整个云计算城市的惊人增长。从广告到贸易展览，云和大数据被狂热地推销给世界，甚至在云产生的环境、隐私和就业问题上乌云密布。云是长期承诺的信息效用，将解决世界上的许多经济和社会问题？还是它只是营销炒作？致云》对这项很可能颠覆世界的技术的潜力和问题进行了首次彻底的分析。

2014年《选择》杂志的杰出学术著作之一!