Framing the Issues of Cloud Computing & Sustainability: A Design Perspective

In this paper, we describe the present lack of understanding about if the potential environmental effects of transitions to cloud computing are positive or negative. We describe that research about the human interactivity implications of and for cloud computing has yet to enter the arena of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) in a significant way. We describe a short inventory of what is presently in the HCI literature apropos of cloud computing and interactivity. In addition, we offer a description of how we think the issues of cloud computing in the perspective of HCI may be framed, as well as an inventory of social issues implicated in cloud computing. Finally, we suggest some projects and problems that may be appropriate for advancing cloud computing in the perspective of HCI with sustainability as a key goal.