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PS3 Downtime To Fight Disease
Aerenel writes, "CNN reports that Sony has teamed up with Folding@home to use the PS3 to study how proteins are formed in the human body and how they sometimes form incorrectly. From the article: 'Donating [a gamer's] PS3's down time to researchers could help cure Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or mad cow disease.' PS3 users will be able to download a software package that tracks when the PS3 is not being used. While gamers are in school, at work, or asleep, their system's Cell processor can be used to perform simulations for research organizations. The PS3, due in November, has gotten serious negative press in the past few months, and this refreshing good news may win back the hearts of gamers still undecided about purchasing the system."
Well, I guess when all else fails, they can always go for the pity angle. "Oh!! Please help us ingrain Blu-Ray! We're fighting DISEASE!"
Apology to Ubuntu forum.
Do I have Alzheimer's, or did I read about this last month?
...will be built using a cluster of PS3s.
This cluster will be able to help cure cancer AND allow Madden 2007 to play an entire season in three minutes.
I'm waiting for the project that will have me use all of the spare time for my incredibly overpowered home CPUs (and with it ample amounts of electricity) to 'fight global warming'!
It's only a matter of time until they reveal their new slogan: "PS3. Won't somebody think of the children?".
--- witty signature
in cold seasons, the power consumption will just turn into heat
Exactly. I run Folding@homewhenever it's cold enough to need a sweater, as the extra heat just warms my apartment. I haven't turned on my bedroom heater in three years. During the summer months, I deactivate any and all distributed computing apps.