I decided to provide a general break down to the major aspects of cloud computing into major categories since there's six of us in the group. The contents are as follows:

* Characteristics/Advantages* Layers & Architecture (i.e. how it works)* Types of Clouding* Companies adopting the technology (i.e. MS, Intel, IBM, etc also with a focus on Canada)* Implications for the Future/Conclusion

Here is some information regarding cloud computing:

According to wikipedia, cloud computing is a model for IT services based on the Internet that typically involves the provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources as a service over the Internet.

What does that mean? Well, in a cloud computing system, there's a significant workload shift. Local computers no longer have to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to running applications. The network of computers that make up the cloudhandles them instead. Hardware and software demands on the user's side decrease. The only thing the user's computer needsto be able to run is the cloud computing system's interface software, which can be as simple as a Web browser, and thecloud's network takes care of the rest.

[http://communication.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing.htm Cloud Computing]

Characteristics of Cloud Computing

# 1) Agility - improves with users' ability to rapidly and inexpensively re-provision technological infrastructure resources#2) Cost - is claimed to be greatly reduced and capital expenditure is converted to operational expenditure.#3) Device - enable users to access systems using a web browser regardless of their location or what device they are using.#4) Multi-tenancy - enables sharing of resources and costs across a large pool of users.#5) Reliability - improves through the use of multiple redundant sites, which makes cloud computing suitable for business continuity and disaster recovery.#6) Scalability - via dynamic ("on-demand") provisioning of resources on a fine-grained, self-service basis near real-time.#7) Security - could improve due to centralization of data[38], increased security-focused resources.#8) Sustainability - comes about through improved resource utilization, more efficient systems, and carbon neutrality.#9) Maintenenace - cloud computing applications are easier to maintain, since they don't have to be installed on each user's computer.

Here's a couple articles you may all find interesting:

Toronto is Canada's Cloud Computing Capital[http://www.techvibes.com/blog/toronto-is-canadas-cloud-computing-capitalToronto is Canada's Cloud Computing Capital]

HP and Microsoft Simplify Technology Environments With Solutions Built on New Infrastructure-to-Application Model[http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/jan10/01-13inftoapppr.mspx HP and Microsoft Simplify Technology Environments With Solutions Built on New Infrastructure-to-Application Model]