Common Examples of how we use SaaS

You are probably using cloud computing more than you realise. A number of reports have stated that many who aren’t aware of cloud computing are, in fact, using it. Using one such example, a Citrix survey concluded that 54 percent of online users say they never use the cloud, whereas 95 percent of those who think they’re not using it actually are. In the majority of cases these people are using SaaS offerings.

The term SaaS, or Software as a Service to give it its full name, refers to any cloud service which user’s access over the internet. This includes software accessed via the internet rather than being purchased by buying a hard copy. Many such services are paid for via a monthly or annual subscription, although some are free of charge.

Now we’ll look at some examples of how you might be using Software as a Service.

Google

Google has many products that can be accessed via the internet because of cloud computing. If you are using a Google product you are almost certainly using SaaS. Google Docs is a good example of this, whereby users have the ability to use and save documents that can then be accessed via the internet. Documents can be shared between users with authorised users able to make edits. Other Google products such as Blogger, Calendar, Gmail (see email section), Bookmarks and much more also rely on cloud computing.

Email

Popular email clients, with Gmail and Hotmail being examples, are SaaS products. Users access their account via the internet, with them being accessible from any internet enabled device. This is done by simply visiting the appropriate website and users log in by using their email address or username and password. All emails can then be accessed. These are all saved, via the cloud, so they can be viewed unless they have been deleted by the user. Emails can be sent and newly received ones can be read.

Computer Games

These days computer games can be available via the cloud, which is another example of software as a service. Users access the games via the internet rather than purchasing a disk. If a game has been saved it can be restored from this stage of the game. There can be the negative of them not being available without an internet connection which has led to it not being as positively received as some computer games and console manufactures would have liked. Games for smartphones and tablets are possible because of cloud computing.

Social Media

Most social media is possible because of cloud computing. Users access their own account via the internet and wherever they access the account from their experience is the same – such as what they can view and what they can do with the site.  

Spotify

Spotify, the music streaming service, is another example of how many are using the cloud without being aware of it. Users download the application onto their computer from the internet. Apps are also available for smartphones and tablets. Access is gained by logging in using a username and password, allowing users to access the available music and any playlists they have set up.

Business Software

The above widely used examples of SaaS tend to be used for personal use. However, there are numerous business software offerings that are also accessed via the cloud, which are therefore examples of software as a service. Examples of the type of things people use such services for at work include planning software, systems for tracking work, services to book and manage holiday and online calendars. 

As you can see, there are many SaaS products that are used by the general public on a regular basis. Not everyone is aware of the impact cloud computing is having on their lives but most of us are using this technology in one form or another.

Andrew Marshall ©

Signs and Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia is a loss of cognitive ability that is best known for leading to memory loss, particularly short term memory loss. It is often confused with Alzheimer’s but Alzheimer’s is, in fact, a cause of dementia. Dementia is where impairment of the brain impacts the memory and how one thinks. It is most common in older people and is where someone’s cognitive ability deteriorates at a quicker rate than is expected from normal aging. The probability of developing dementia is increased when there is a family history of it.

Dementia, then, is not a decease as such, but rather a collection of symptoms.  The condition can impact every aspect of someone’s life, meaning that getting the right dementia care is crucial. Ideally the signs and symptoms should be spotted early. Some of these are outlined below.

The best known and easiest to spot sign of dementia is memory loss. Short term memory loss and problems remembering recent events is particularly common, with long term memory sometime unaffected. In some patients memory fades gradually, sometimes over a period of several years, while in other cases it can deteriorate significantly over a short period. Memory loss in a dementia patient can be as extreme as not remembering where they live, leading then to feel unfamiliar in their own home, and not recognising loved ones. This can even include their spouse or children. Regression to an earlier stage of life is another common symptom. This leads some to remember things as they did at this earlier stage in their life. This can result in them believing they are still at school or long-gone parents are still alive. This often causes much confusion in certain circumstances and there can be a time when someone has a very clear memory of sixty years earlier, for example, but has very little memory, or even no memory, of what happened a week previous or a few hours ago.

Issues with organisation and planning can be another problem. This is because the brain can have trouble with attention to detail and piecing things together. It also affects the ability to be able to think on a number of different levels. Handling numbers can be particularly troublesome for dementia sufferers. This can be an early sign of memory loss that may, ultimately, be the early stages of dementia. Problems processing numbers and making calculations can lead to having difficulty with simple Maths and paying for items in a shop.

Dementia can lead to mood swings and depression. Sufferers can lose control of their life and be unable to cope on their own and perform tasks that would have been natural in the past. Many find this difficult to accept, which therefore results in depression.

Muscle memory can become a problem and is more common in later stages of dementia. This can impact movement and lead to clumsiness and being unable to perform simple tasks, such as pouring a drink. Muscle memory issues can also result in difficulty with speech. Incontinence is another symptom that increases in likelihood in the later stages of dementia. Bladder incontinence is most common but bowel incontinence can also affect patients.

There are many signs and symptoms of dementia. The above isn’t an exhaustive list but some of those that are more common.

Andrew Marshall ©