Autodesk is a company that is known more for making industry level powerful 3D design tools like AutoCAD over mainstream graphic design apps.
It does have a few apps that offer designers immense possibilities for making professional level sketches though. Of late, the company has decided to focus on making cloud based apps.
With time, Cloud computing is becoming popular with various types of internet users, including design professionals.
As a matter of fact, internet users are only limited by speed of their web access devices to leverage benefits of various cloud based services and apps.
AutoDesk and the Cloud
According to Autodesk, cloud computing will open up new scopes for professional level graphic and web design.
Designers using cloud apps will benefit from factors like collaboration, optimization and virtualization.
With virtualization, design professionals and architects can interact better with customers and update them about projects that are in progress.
Optimization is possible with advanced cloud based apps as they can conduct experiment on numerous simulations simultaneously to create various options for clients.
Collaboration is the USP of any Cloud App and it is also possible to decide which resources will be available to a certain group of users for a project.
Cloud Computer is the Future for Autodesk
Autodesk wants its upcoming design apps to gain from these inherent benefits of cloud based apps.
In 2012, a number of Cloud based design apps are expected to hit the web from its stable.
At this moment, Autodesk has not given out final list of its cloud apps but the first one to be made available on a commercial scale could be AutoCAD WS.
Graphic design apps running from web servers would result in less expenditure on hardware and software licensing for design setups.
For instance, a graphic design firm with high speed internet access will be able to use cloud based app without worrying about installation and upgrading apps on separate PCs.
Cloud design apps can be accessed seamlessly across any PC. Even operating systems would not be a barrier. This will speed up project execution and data sharing process.
In last few years, Autodesk has resorted to using hosted cloud services for its needs.Now it is planning to buy compute time for running design and visualization suite from Amazon EC2.
The company is targeting mid sized and small companies for its cloud based services. Since its cloud based apps are still in experimentation stage, nothing concrete is known about their pricing.
However, Autodesk is going to adopt a subscription based model for its upcoming cloud app lineup, as it has said.
In next three years, the company plans to take all its apps online starting with AutoCAD WS.
Autodesk is also ensuring that its upcoming web apps are secured enough for users.
The company has got encouraged by unexpected response from mobile device users to its Sketchbook app, originally meant to be an advanced industry design tool.