Today is the 14th and Yesterday was Too!

Today is the 14th of November but yesterday was the 14th year of CPU time I’ve contributed toward cancer research. I haven’t been contributing CPU time for 14 years, I’ve just managed to load and run the software on enough computers since 2001 to add up to a total of 14 years worth of computing time. Let me clear this up a bit. I run a distributed computing program as a volunteer.

Distributed computing is where a large project, such as computing how a chemical would fit into or perhaps interact with a cancer cell, can be broken down to smaller parts. Each small part can be run on a small personal computer (PC) and then the whole of the results can be combined again. What is very neat about this is that everyday people like us who know nothing about doing cancer cell or drug treatment research can have a very active part in finding drugs to use against cancer.

It works like this; a central computer or server center over a internet connection serves up bits of the project to volunteers like you and me. The volunteers’ computers compute the data as a screen saver, and or as a background operation when they aren’t using their computer, then return the completed data to the server and pick up another block of data to process. It’s all done automatically so the computer isn’t slowed down when the owner wants to use it, but instead takes advantage of the time that the computer is actually turned on but no one is doing anything on it. You can load the software on as many computers as you would like and the software will keep up with all of your installations and inform you of its progress. It’s really just that simple and makes a great contribution toward finding cures for various cancers.

Have any of my computer installations been involved in a cure found to date? I don’t know, and probably never will. People who do this do it for reasons other than fame. Actually some continue to run the software because they are fascinated by the molecule models displayed in the screen saver. But no matter your motive. It makes a valuable contribution toward relieving much suffering and unnecessary and untimely loss of lives. Already there is a link in my sidebar for breast cancer awareness and support. Now I will also be adding a link to where you can get involved at no cost to yourself. You computer has central processing unit (CPU) power and abilities that you don’t even touch. Put it work for a good cause!

You can learn more about this exciting project and how to get involved here:

http://www.grid.org/projects/cancer/

I can’t remember whose slogan it is or exactly how it goes, but the essence is, “The life you save may be your own, or someone’s you love.”

Posted by Dread who has anxiously awaited this milestone, all while right here, beneath the Carolina Moon.