Distributed Computing

Have you heard of SETI@Home’s distributed computing network? People from all over the world share their computer’s downtime to aid in the search for extraterrestrial life. The thousands of computers cyphering radio telescope data gives the project awesome computing power. It’s been around for years and I’ve run it on my computer from time to time. The project is interesting, but I don’t feel it really serves a useful purpose.

Now Stanford’s Folding@Home project announced they have produced results because of the thousands of computers on the Internet sharing their computer’s power. This project is very worthwhile since it’s involved in the research of Alzheimer’s and other related diseases. According to Science Daily, this marks the first time distributed computing has produced significant results.

I recently installed the United Devices’ screensaver that aids in cancer research. When my computer’s screensaver pops on, my computer goes to work by volunteering its unused processor cycles for crunching numbers. It’s a good project that may someday help with the cure for cancer. Who knows?

For a list of other Distributed Computing sites, click here.