Distributed computing faces security hurdle

Security was a major concern for information technology experts with regards to distributed computing.

"Both intranet and Internet security was a major concern for technologists in an era of convergence when different computing instruments were used to hook to one network system," explained Sajal K Das, professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, USA, while briefing the media at the '5th international workshop on distributed computing' organised at IIM Calcutta.

Other issues faced by professional and researchers were coordination among research and development team members specially when the project was being develop across borders.

"Content coordination as well as management coordination and dividing responsibilities to members located overseas and at different time zones was one issue that required some form of solution," explained Samir R Das from Stony Brook University from USA.

"Resource scheduling was another major constraint when researchers and developers are required to complete a project in a time bound manner," he explained.

One of the major issues bothering present day economies were the digital divide "" the divide between digitally haves and have-nots. "The digital-haves were better off than their digital have-not counterparts and a balance between these two needs to be struck," explained, Ashim Pal from Management Information System.

The international workshop will also address issues like application of networking in rural areas for economically backwards classes. India lacks a central information system where data on availability of agricultural products at different geographical on a macro level was available to synchronize demand and availability for better price realisations to farmers.

Lack of availability of such information to farmers result in pockets of excess supply resulting in prices crashing in these pockets, while increased demand in areas lead to prices astronomically rising in these area.

However, if information on a macro level is available which can synchronize excess demand from pockets of excess supply will result in prices stabilising as well as farmers getting fair price for their produce. Distributed networking had a major role to play here according to the professors from these universities.