Have you been puzzled by these three terms? Do you understand them, but need to explain them to non-technical colleagues? Here is a nice article that explains cloud computing, virtualization, and Torrents in easy to understand language. The article describes these as "Profound movements in computer and Internet use."

Trends for 2009: Cloud Computing, Virtualization and BitTorrent, by Jack Dunning, ComputorEdge Online, (12/26/08).

I particularly like the illustration of how BitTorrent works from Wikipedia.

There is a lot going on during the current transition to a new Administration with regard to information policy, technology policy, and information-technology (IT) policy. Sometimes these overlap, but not always. I wanted to take this opportunity to bring together some resources relevant to government information and technology policies during this transition period.

John Shuler has begun some comments here on FGI, which I hope will spark comments and discussion.

• 75 days to Government Information Liberation

The Environmental Protection Agency has had an ongoing National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information since April, and they have issued a draft report:

• Draft Information Access Strategy (PDF) (22pp, 682K)

The Government Accountability Office has a website for it to provide "insight into, and recommendations for addressing, the nation’s major issues, risks and challenges" and information technology is mentioned there in relation to everything from the Agriculture, to Census, to Veterans.

• 2009 Congressional and Presidential Transition

As mentioned here earlier, the Obama-Biden Transition Project (a 501c(4) organization) has set up a .gov website, Change.gov, which they call the Office of the President-Elect. It has a blog, position papers, agendas, and includes a page on technology:

• Science, Technology and Innovation for a New Generation

Over at the Sunlight foundation, Gabriela Schneider, the Communications Director, interviewed several Sunlight staff members to get their opinions on how the next administration can be more open and transparent.

• Open Letter to the Obama Administration on How to Shine Sunlight

And John Wonderlich at Sunlight has a posting that, though not specifically about IT policy, is very interesting in terms of the transition. He has tracked down a number of most relevant CRS reports on Members of Congress in transition and the mechanisms of congressional authority, how Members are assigned to committees, to chairmanships, to status as ranking members; how leadership positions are determined, and so forth:

• Resources for a Congressional Shake-up

I will certainly be following John Shuler's comments here closely and invite everyone to add their comments here at FGI about the issues and opportunities that will affect access to government information.