Citrix recently commissioned a study to find out what the average American consumer thinks about cloud computing. The results show that even though people are using cloud computing extensively, they don’t really understand what it is – some even think it’s a “real” cloud, like in the sky.

For example, 51 percent of respondents, including a majority of Millennials, believe stormy weather can interfere with cloud computing.

Despite that, 97 percent of those polled are actually using the technology in some form or another – online shopping, banking, social networking and file sharing all qualify as “cloud” services.

If nothing else, this demonstrates the absence of technical literacy among general consumers, and the confusion that’s created when people insist on adopting cute monikers like “cloud” to describe something that can be clearly defined in plain language: network-based file storage and data management.

Eh, whatever. I’m gonna go chill out and listen to The Orb.