Cloud Hosting

If you're wondering why tech-savvy people seem to be talking about weather patterns a lot, rest assured the clouds they're talking about are digital.

Generally speaking, cloud computing uses an Internet connection to allow users to access Web-based music, information and a host of other services, without the need to keep that data stored on a user's device.

If you listen to Internet music streaming services such as Pandora or do your correspondence on Gmail, you're using cloud computing.

Now, thanks to the growth of mobile Internet access through smartphones, tablets and other devices, Americans can access the cloud from almost anywhere, including their cars.

"At the end of the day, the user does not want to have to give up part of their digital lifestyle when they get in the car," says Mark Boyadjis, a senior analyst for IHS Automotive.

That desire is reflected in the popularity of cloud-enabled infotainment systems, also known as telematics, in cars, he says.

"There's a lot of connected-car growth right now," Boyadjis says. "The vehicle is actually the third-fastest growing connected device behind smartphones and tablets."

At this point, most cloud-based services come courtesy of a car's connection to a smartphone such as Apple's iPhone or the Motorola Droid. That's because those devices provide the wireless data connections needed to bring information from the remote servers where it originates and into your auto, says Joachim Taiber, a research professor of electrical and computer engineering at Clemson University's International Center of Automotive Research.

"The idea is to connect the smartphone with the user interface of the car to make the interaction safer," Taiber says.

With that data stream, today's leading telematics systems from automakers such as Ford and BMW can provide a number of different functions to car passengers. Find out how you can use the cloud.

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The connected car: Cloud computing hitches ride