A Structured Approach to Virtualization in Order to Support a Social Media Oriented Cloud Computing

High-speed networks and low-cost commodity components which becomes progressively cheaper, faster and easily available, led Computer Science (CS) research focus shifting from programming computers to the question of how best to design, build, analyse, and operate networks [20]. New requirements and challenges are today met by the design of a new operational model which is enabled by an old technology (i.e. Virtualization), rather than the implementation of a new technology: Cloud Computing. Although CS is mainly fostering Cloud Computing solutions solely for specific fields, such as enterprise and transactional Web applications (e.g. Amazon EC 2 aws.amazon.com/ec2), this pervasive paradigm is generating a metaphor that enables to access and share software in the Internet as data in a way which is natural for human beings. It is in the opinion of this paper that CS should not ignore the empowerment brought by such a social media oriented Cloud approach. Supporting knowledge construction and social behaviour, individuals are actively engaged in envisioning a new participatory model for the future of cultural creation [12]. A structured approach to Virtualization is proposed as a mean of bringing insight into this new epistemic scenario. Two experiments dealing with Cloud Computing for Virtual heritage are shown as examples: NU.M.E. 2010 as a testing experience in a cultural Metaverse, which confirms the hypothesis of Cloud Computing as a novel paradigm for knowledge construction in the digital humanities; the CINECA MDC ("Museo della Citta") Project (2009-2011) as an applicative example which enabled to study in a real pipeline production properties of general interest for Virtual Heritage Projects. It is a case study in the VmusT.net European Project.