Cloud Computing Introduction (introductioncloudcomputing.blogspot.com)
Guardio
Harnesses cutting-edge AI to help parents protect their children from cyberbullying
Hello again! This entry will focus, once again, on an aspect of computer technology I wasn’t familiar with called “Cloud Computing”. Of course, I had heard of the Cloud; I pay Google every month for extra storage space for the thousands of pictures of my dog that I have (he’s really cute btw). But I wasn’t sure what the “computing” aspect of a cloud was. Turns out the definition of Cloud Computing is the following: “Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computing resources as services over the internet. It eliminates the need for enterprises to procure, configure, or manage resources themselves, and they only pay for what they use”, (Google Cloud, n.d.). In layman’s terms you don’t buy software and install it on your computer. Instead, you are using the software through the internet, and it is based off the cloud which makes it free or at least cheap to use for the consumer. In turn, this saves companies money because they are able to modify existing software and update it more quickly.
Guardio, an online cyberbully prevention company, used “cloud-based AI from IBM Watson; Guardio built a solution that monitors messages on WhatsApp and Instagram, and alerts parents about exchanges that could indicate bullying”, (Solution: IBM Cloud Industry: Computer Services, n.d.). One of the factors that children would approve of is the emphasis on protecting their privacy. Parents are not able to view every message the child sends, only the ones which are considered to be “bullying” are sent to their parents for review. By using AI from IBM Watson messages are able to be quickly analyzed and according to test results there is a “less than 0.01% rate of false-positives”, (Solution: IBM Cloud Industry: Computer Services, n.d.). Guardio is available for “WhatsApp and Instagram, which between them cover 80 percent of social media activity for people under 14” (Solution: IBM Cloud Industry: Computer Services, n.d.). The setup of Guardio on your children’s device uses a QR code which makes it easier for less tech savvy parents to install.
IBM Cloud Solutions did a good job of choosing to focus on Guardio. Cyberbullying can affect anyone regardless of age making it an important aspect of computer safety. Emphasizing the quickness of the response time by using, “advanced IBM Watson services offer sophisticated text analysis, greatly reducing Guardio’s training and investment requirements”, (Solution: IBM Cloud Industry: Computer Services, n.d.). Every business wants to enhance profits wherever they can so offering a cloud computing service at a reasonable price will encourage other businesses to use IBM. The one drawback I see to Guardio’s program is that I had never heard of it. Granted, my children are in their 20’s but this program is not receiving the attention it perhaps should. Given how many cloud computing services there are, finding a way to differentiate yourself from others is something that should be focused on.
Overall, I would definitely look into Guardio if I had young children at home. Keeping kids safe from cyberbullying is something every responsible parent wants to do.
Works Cited
Google Cloud. (n.d.). Retrieved from Google: https://cloud.google.com/learn/what-is-cloud-computing
Solution: IBM Cloud Industry: Computer Services. (n.d.). Retrieved from IBM: https://www.ibm.com/case-studies/guardio-cloud-bullying-detection-application
KPMG Speed to Modern Technology: Cloud