Distributed computing project for ENWorlders

[Krieg]

In this thread:

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107533

...I mentioned that I had started an ENWorld team with the World Community Grid distributed computing project, and solicited community members to join & contribute. A couple of members mentioned that they were already involved with other DC projects, most notably BOINC & Folding@Home.

I've decided to start a poll to gauge community interest in general & to specifically see which project folks would be most interested in contributing to.

Right now the three primary choices would be the current World Community Grid, BOINC & Folding@Home. I am also open to hearing any other worthwhile suggestions.



World Community Grid - http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/index.html

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.

Advantages: Just started within the last couple of months. Still has a relatively small member base which means that even a small team will place higher in the overall rankings.

Disadvantages: Client technology not fully mature. Windows client only (no Mac or Linux). Corporate owned.



BOINC - (Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing) http://boinc.berkeley.edu/

BOINC-based distributed computing projects include:

Climateprediction.net: Improve the accuracy of long-range climate prediction.
Einstein@home: search data from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO) in the US and from the GEO 600 gravitational wave observatory in Germany for signals coming from rapidly rotating neutron stars, known as pulsars.
LHC@home: improve the design of the CERN LHC particle accelerator.
Predictor@home: Solve biomedical questions of protein-related diseases.
SETI@home: Analyze radio-telescope data, looking for evidence of extraterrestrial life.

Advantages: Ability to participate in multiple projects. seti@home classic work units count towards total. Good community & active client support base.

Disadvantages: Still working out a few kinks with the client.



Folding@Home - http://folding.stanford.edu/

What does Folding@Home do?

Folding@Home is a distributed computing project which studies protein folding, misfolding, aggregation, and related diseases. We use novel computational methods and large scale distributed computing, to simulate timescales thousands to millions of times longer than previously achieved. This has allowed us to simulate folding for the first time, and to now direct our approach to examine folding related disease.

Advantages - Very large community base. Mature & stable client software. Excellent feedback from scientists concerning program's results.

Disadvantages - Very large user base, smaller teams will not have as much of an impact in overall standings. Client limited to a single project.



---So feel free to vote on which project is the most appealing. If we can come to a consensus then we can focus all of our efforts on a single project rather than being scattered over several.

As mentioned previously feel free to suggest any other alternate programs, or add any comments/suggestions you can think of.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

OK, I voted BOINC.

"Corporate owned" is a real turn-off for me. And private university owned isn't much better.

So, let's all BOINC!

 

[cybertalus]

Question about the World Community Grid project. You mention it's corporate owned. Does that mean the company that owns it will be using the results strictly for themselves, or will they be freely sharing with the scientific community at large?

 

[Krieg]

Question about the World Community Grid project. You mention it's corporate owned. Does that mean the company that owns it will be using the results strictly for themselves, or will they be freely sharing with the scientific community at large?

IBM donated equipment, hosting & support to the project while the software comes courtesy of United Devices. Looking at the advisory board there is a pretty broad range of individuals involved with the project (CalTech, WHO, CDC etc).

It looks as if the project itself is owned by the Institute for Systems Biology which is listed as a non-profit organization. As to whether they will distribute the information gained by the project, or keep it proprietary; I don't know.

Institute for Systems Biology: http://www.systemsbiology.org/Default.aspx?pagename=humanproteome

FAQ: http://www.systemsbiology.org/Default.aspx?pagename=faqs

 

[GreyShadow]

I currently run:

GRID.ORG
Grid.org is a single destination site for large-scale, non-profit research projects of global significance. With the participation of over 3 million devices worldwide, grid.org projects like Cancer Research, Anthrax Research, Smallpox Research and the new Human Proteome Folding Project (running in conjunction with IBM's new World Community Grid) have achieved record levels of processing speed and success.

It's running the same project as the World Community Grid, but also does Cancer Research.