"What is cloud?" an old man asked.

"Hmm... it's the white fluffy thing you see when you look up the sky."

The old man smiled back. He looks to be in his late 70 or early 80s, and carrying a bag full of grocery. In this hot summer day, he is definitely dressing in more layers then I would of expected. Although he looks like a homeless, but from the amount of food he has in his grocery bag, it's not clear whether that's the case.

"No sir, I am not talking about the cloud up in the sky."

"No?"

"I am interested to learn what cloud computer is."

"Cloud computer?" This is a first, not the first time I've heard the term, but the first I've heard a customer asked me. I thought to myself. Through the years, I've been asked many strange questions at the cell phone store, but I have never been pop quizzed with a technical question not related to cell phone or even the wireless industry in general. At this point I am well aware that he is not interested in buying any cell phone. "Well, cloud computer is referring to computer not cell phone."

"It could be wireless, right?" The old man continues to question.

I sensed another pop quiz. I search through every bit of data in my brain, but it seems like I am running into data corruption. "Sure, I guess."

"Cloud computing is basically..." The old man went on with explaining what cloud computer is. "...it is amazing how small data can be transported..." Two minutes into his explanation, I have already gone into a day dreaming marathon. "...it's about the physics..." I took a break from my day dreaming marathon and nod my head from time to time to acknowledge him.

"Kid, you need to read up on your physics from time to time." Going from sir to kid, the old man finishes his last sentence and looked at me.

It's obvious that I wasn't paying any attention to what he said in the last 5 minutes. "Do you understand what cloud is now?" He asked.

Crap! Is this a sign of another pop quiz coming? I almost felt like I am back in school when the teacher quizzed me on what I've learned for the day. If I answer yes on his question, then he might ask me to explain it back to him, but if I answer no, then he might start his whole explanation over again.

After carefully considering my options, I went for the safest respond. "Wow, that's amazing."

He seems proud to enlighten me with his knowledge, and start to walk back out to the street. As with all elderly customer, I said to him on his way out "Watch the step in front of the store." He turned around, and starts explaining the energy needed to take a step and the physics behind it.

With my hand in my pocket, I started yanking the hair out of my leg for leading him on to another conversation. I quickly turned on my selective hearing and turned around pretending not to hear him. He seems to understand my uninterested to carry on the conversation, and so he slowly walk out the door.

After he exited the store, I heard him talking to another person that walked by him. "He didn't understand what cloud is, do you?"

Categories: cell phone, technologies