Humanware

Abstract

Cyberinfrastructure is generally defined as consisting of computing systems, data storage systems, advanced instruments and data repositories, visualization environments, and people, all linked by high-speed networks to enable scholarly innovation and discoveries. Usually, the component is overlooked in favor of all the other wares ... hardware, software, vizware, and netware. The term humanware provides an analogous term to emphasize the important role that people play in supporting the use of cyberinfrastructure's other components. Humans have always been important to the deployment and effective use of technology. This paper seeks to provide historical perspective on the role of people in deploying technology, and to illuminate the challenges associated with emphasizing humanware's importance to the use of cloud-provided cyberinfrastructure.