World Community Grid

From Wikipedia (as @ 13 Sept 2009):

"World Community Grid (WCG) is an effort to create the world's largest public computing grid to tackle scientific research projects that benefit humanity.^[3] Launched November 16, 2004, it is funded and operated by IBM with client software currently available for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and FreeBSD operating systems.^[4][5]

Using the idle time of computers around the world, World Community Grid's research projects have analyzed aspects of the human genome, HIV, dengue, muscular dystrophy, cancer, influenza, rice crop yields and clean energy. The organization has so far partnered with over 400 other companies and organizations to assist in the work and has over 475,000 registered user accounts."

I thought I could do something to help scientists in their research for cures and clean energy by letting the programe run on my computer. Especially when I was away for lunch or in the middle of lab work and my computer was left idle doing nothing. So I downloaded and installed it into my computer.

Initially, I was worried it might slow down the other programs that I am using, but it did not. You are also able to set the maximum % use of memory and harddisk space usage.

So, if members here are up for it, maybe we can create a "IFSQN" Team and start crunching for a better future.

You can find more info here:
http://www.worldcomm...index.jsp<br />
Thoughts, anyone?

Seems like a worthy project Hongyun. The fear of course, for me especially is having anyone near my PC after the last couple of weeks (of torture) with the virus. I will have a read up and get to understand it more.

Regards,
Simon

Of course Simon. If I ever had a forum like your's and was being hacked into, I too would have been extra careful with what I am going to download and install...

Here's abit more info on security and privacy.

All of the work accomplished by World Community Grid is completely dependent upon the safe participation of our members. Without you, we would not exist. That's why we make every effort to keep both the software and our server systems secure.

Our security measures include: virus scanning all of our build environments, digitally signing information, advanced encryption of files, and biometric access control to World Community Grid servers. IBM, which sponsors and hosts World Community Grid, also conducts thorough security reviews, including engaging 'Ethical Hackers' to ensure that the entire system is secure.

Here are some more important facts:

• World Community Grid's software has been safely downloaded onto over one million computers, which have completed 197,276 years of scientific research.
• The software, called BOINC, was developed by the University of California, Berkeley. It is also used by other organizations to advance research in many areas of science such as SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence).
• The software will not damage your systems or invade your privacy in any way. It runs unobtrusively in your computer's background and is not invasive.
• The software does not scan or change any other files or material on your machine.
• Your e-mail is recorded only in case you forget your password and need to retrieve it.
• No personally identifiable information is required to run World Community Grid's software.
• Your information is never shared with any company or organization outside World Community Grid.
• World Community Grid will never send you unsolicited emails.

http://www.worldcomm.../viewInfoAll.do

Dear Hongyun,

Hmmm, seems like a prologue to a Resident Evil movie to me... I think its great Hongyun, I'll see if I can give it a try on my PC. To be honest, I don't want to take any risk on my company's PC.


Regards,

Arya

PS: Your avatar is getting 'hardcore'.. Hunger of zombie-killing-time?

Hmmm, seems like a prologue to a Resident Evil movie to me...

Haha. Let's hope it won't go down that path...

I think its great Hongyun, I'll see if I can give it a try on my PC. To be honest, I don't want to take any risk on my company's PC.

You don't have to download it onto company computer if you are not comfortable with it. I started with my own computer at home and it did not give me any problems.

PS: Your avatar is getting 'hardcore'.. Hunger of zombie-killing-time?

LOL. I must admit that I'm kinda morbid. Anyway, it's taken from the credit opening of the HBO show, True Blood.

Here are some more important facts:

World Community Grid's software has been safely downloaded onto over one million computers, which have completed 197,276 years of scientific research.

That's pretty impressive, I'm sure it must be safe, but do I trust a blood sucking zombie? I might install it on my kids computer.

Regards,
Simon

That's pretty impressive, I'm sure it must be safe, but do I trust a blood sucking zombie?

To promote more interest in this, here's more on what WCG is all about.

The Power of Sharing

How It Works

PCs do thousands of years of work

I use this on all my personal computers myself and have for years. Used the original SETI@home one back in college. Work is a different issue, even with the security promises. At my last job I submitted the idea that all of the (hundreds and hundreds) of computers in the company have this installed as the default screensaver, especially as most people were letting their computers run all night anyways. It was turned down though, mostly due to fears of security. At my current job I'm sure it will be the same thing. You can't even download anything, let alone install something without getting prior approval.

Yes, I believe it's the same problem in most companies (unless you work in IBM). They are afraid of security issues, which is understandable given the fact that there are so many viruses and hackers around. You never know if the program you downloaded is safe or not.

Nonetheless, we can still try to convenice people to install into their personal PCs to help out the scientists.

Here's a link to the Fast Company magazine, whereby the article takes an in-depth look at how World Community Grid, researchers, and volunteers are enabling life-saving research.

Yes, I believe it's the same problem in most companies (unless you work in IBM). They are afraid of security issues, which is understandable given the fact that there are so many viruses and hackers around. You never know if the program you downloaded is safe or not.

Nonetheless, we can still try to convenice people to install into their personal PCs to help out the scientists.

Here's a link to the Fast Company magazine, whereby the article takes an in-depth look at how World Community Grid, researchers, and volunteers are enabling life-saving research.

Thanks, I'll take a look at the article and see if I can put it to use once I find out how to submit suggestions here. I think the IBM bit is amusing. I figured if a company like IBM, who has, perhaps more electronically sensitive data than anyone, as well as being a holy grail for hackers, finds it safe to run then everyone should accept it. But that's me. Personally I love the idea of getting a company to have this set up.
More power to you in your own quest.

Latest addition to the many projects on WCG, Computing For Clean Water.

The mission is to develop a new filtering system via nanoporus material as an alternative to expensive Desalination. By using WCG, scientists are able to hasten the completion of the project by simulating trials and generate results on idle computers.

And more recently, WCG volunteers have returned more 500 million results, sending them to researchers for analysis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udOeXcv7RHs&feature=player_embedded

Thanks very much for the information and the video Hongyun.