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IBM Sponsors Humanitarian Grid Computing Project

Posted by michael on from the many-stones-can-form-an-arch-singly-none-singly-none dept.

BrianWCarver writes "Reuters reports that IBM and top scientific research organizations are joining forces in a humanitarian effort to tap the unused power of millions of computers and help solve complex social problems. Following the example of SETI@home, the project, dubbed The World Community Grid, will seek to tap the vast underutilized power of computers belonging to individuals and businesses worldwide and channel it into selected medical and environmental research programs. The first project to benefit will be Human Proteome Folding, an effort to identify the genetic structure of proteins that can cause diseases. The client is currently available for Windows XP, 2000, ME, and 98."

9 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Curious.... by JoeLinux · · Score: 2, Funny

    The system is trying to find and locate a person who might be carrying a deadly virus. If anyone finds a "Conner, Sarah", please report it to this grid. We'd hate for her to be the cause of an entire planet's viral infestation.

  2. Trying to find diseases by using WinXX computers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I bet they find a lot caused by viruses.

  3. Re:Great! by MikeMacK · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, you're our first patient then...quick everyone set their computers to research internal "warm and fuzzy" feelings...could take a lot of CPU cycles to crack this one...

  4. "solve complex social problems" by wombatmobile · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's already been done, by pr0n.

  5. Gee... by Dirtside · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is great and all, but I don't know if humanitarians are really the best processors to use in a grid computer.

    --
    "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
  6. Re:seriously by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 2, Funny
    this looks like a perfect and cheap way for intelligence services to crack all those rsa keys they ever wanted.

    When you are finished with your tin-foil hat can I borrow it for a moment? I have to write a paper on the JFK assassination.

  7. Re:seriously by prowley · · Score: 4, Funny
    would you seriously consider running a closed-source application, that is a) cosuming your entire cpu resources b) recieves instructions from the internet c) sends back information gathered at your computer d) has not provided any scientific value (a la seti@home)
    Please, lets have less of this Microsoft Windows bashing and get back to the subject at hand.
  8. In other news.. HL2 is just released.. by Gentlewhisper · · Score: 2, Funny

    There won't be any idle CPU cycles :P

    --
    Online backup with Mozy, sounds like Ozzie, but more!
  9. Re:Lets make a list first by Neil+Blender · · Score: 2, Funny

    Any distributed software needs to have the following requirements for me to install it on my system:

    - open source

    - free (as in beer)

    - portable code, or multicode

    - protected against buffer overflows etc. (managed code)

    - signed updates of grid software, grid client software and working packages

    - nice interface (including a good web server)

    - only for use for non-profit organizations

    - and I wan't to choose my projects

    Bruce Perens called - He said, "Step off, bitch. I'm the biggest Open Source asshole on the 'net.".