Enabling usage of cloud-based applications when offline

Abstract

The Internet is ubiquitous. Office and home environments are increasingly making use of cloud computing platforms to facilitate day to day tasks. The main cloud related challenges highlighted by academia include: server consolidation, energy management, data security, storage technologies and data management. Cloud related research either does not mention issues pertaining to Internet connectivity or assumes that Internet connectivity is available (and rightly so), and as pointed out by: “No Internet, no cloud computing - it’s that simple.” However, situations often arise whereby connectivity is limited or unavailable (such as whilst travelling) and access to the cloud is still required.