World Community Grid

[Asher]

World Community Grid is a new computing grid being launched by IBM and United Devices, to harness the idle processor cycles of people's computers to do research that benefits humanity.

The current project is called the "Human Proteome Folding" project:

The Human Proteome Folding project will provide scientists with data that predicts the shape of a very large number of human proteins. These predictions will give scientists the clues they need to identify the biological functions of individual proteins within the human body. With an understanding of how each protein affects human health, scientists can develop new cures for human diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, SARS, and malaria.

More information is available here: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/pr...e_project.html

This does not affect your computer's performance, because it only uses processor cycles that are otherwise wasted on doing nothing.

I have created an Apolyton team yesterday, and we have 7 members at the time of this writing. Every little bit helps, so join today.

Step 1: Join (download, install, register): http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/jo.../join_now.html
Step 2: Join the Apolyton team: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/te...Id=635XNJBR9N1

It would be cool if Markos or Dan made this a news item, too.

[Snowflake]

I'll take a more proper look at the webpage later, but just a fast question. Does ones PC needs to be on all the time to participate or is the project only using the PC time when you actually turn it on but the processor is not fully used? Also isn't it quite dangerous for the project to be subjected to virus attacks and such?

[Asher]

Your computer does not need to be on all the time, but it will (obviously) only work while your computer is on. 99% of most people's cycles are not used, especially when doing stuff like surfing the internet or word processing.

Security isn't a concern: data packets and instructions are digitally signed by IBM and UD, and the client validates it before executing it (using public key cryptography). It's a secure system.

[Snowflake]

Thanks! I'll certainly take a look at it.

[DrSpike]

Does it slow down MP games?

[Asher]

It doesn't take any bandwidth up unless you're receiving or sending data (once a day maybe), and it waits until the network activity is inactive before doing it, to not hurt your network performance.

[DrSpike]

Hmm, sounds well thought out. I might give it a crack.

[MarkG]

i'll take a look at it....

i've got 5 machines at home and office to put it on

[Kuciwalker]

Just downloaded; 0.5% done

[Skanky Burns]

I'm doing my part!
[/Starship Troopers]

[Fake Boris]

Who will be getting the patents for this?

[Asher]

Silly Boris, you can't patent existing protein structures...

[Skanky Burns]

834 points now.

[Asher]

So Mark/Dan, can you post this as a news item please? We'd get more people.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Asher
Silly Boris, you can't patent existing protein structures...

Haven't companies been trying to patent genes?