If you're a technology trend watcher, PTC 2010, the annual Pacific Telecommunications Conference from Jan. 17-20, is where you'll want to be. The gathering always brings the best and the brightest from around the Pacific Rim to swap ideas, announce new developments and network.

The theme of this year's conference, “;Embracing the Cloud,”; should be no surprise to anyone who reads this column. Cloud computing will have a tremendous impact on the way we work and live.

Cloud computing means getting your computer resources—software and applications—accessed on demand from the Internet. Think of the Internet (”;the cloud”;) as a giant computer. With greater dependence on retrieving data off-site, bandwidth plays a crucial role. Without a big pipe to retrieve data and applications, cloud computing won't do you much good.

What kinds of applications can we expect? The field is still nascent but “;the possibilities are endless,”; says local cloud computing pioneer Mike Meyer, the founder of Islandatech (http://www.islandatech.com).

“;The cloud,”; says Mike, “;puts the power of a supercomputer into the hands of businesses and individuals.”;

For example, with a device like an iPhone, you can do amazing things.

Meyer says there's a group in Boston called Citizens Connect that enlists Boston residents and visitors to gather information about the physical state of the city by snapping photos of potholes, fallen trees, graffiti, broken street lights or garbage. The application not only delivers photos to City Hall, but provides the location of where each complaint was filed and updates.

If Honolulu Hale were connected to the cloud, we could do the same.

Cloud applications are ideal for telemedicine. An oncologist on the Big Island could utilize complex molecular tests to diagnose tumors, which requires analyzing libraries of gene expression profiles that previously would only be available on the mainland. Likewise a local biotech firm could do advanced biochemical research on its compounds without having to send the material to the mainland.

Other types of businesses could also benefit:

» An engineering firm in Kaimuki could tap into a sophisticated program that analyzes stresses that a tsunami or hurricane could put on a building.

» A small PR shop in Kakaako could “;order”; computing resources “;on demand”; to run a high-definition presentation for a client in Japan.

» An animation company at the Manoa Innovation Center could access high-powered rendering applications to complete a National Geographic special.

There's no question in my mind that this is a transformative technology. Stay tuned!