The term "cloud computing" might well be shortened to just "computing" by the time 2020 rolls around.  The results of Pew’s latest study show that a significant majority of Internet experts believe cloud computing will represent the main way in which people will interact with software at that point.

Pew contacted 895 "internet experts and other internet users," and found that 71 percent of them agree on that detail.  Only 27 percent took an opposing stance.  That’s good news for companies that are focused on the cloud, and perhaps Google in particular.

Here’s why: Pew didn’t throw out the phrase "cloud computing" and see how people voted.  It defined cloud computing – and referenced a certain search giant – by suggesting, "By 2020, most people won’t do their work with software running on a general-purpose PC.  Instead, they will work in Internet-based applications such as Google Docs, and in applications run from smartphones."

Respondents also indicated that cloud computing pioneers need to address concerns about security, control, and reliability, though.

The first companies to do so will probably benefit most from the changeover between PC-based computing and the cloud-based approach.