Posted by Rik on February 16, 2001, at 13:26:12
In reply to Re: SETI@home--trustworthy? » shar, posted by Cam W. on February 16, 2001, at 12:36:43
Cam:
It is indeed the bona fide article. I have one that runs on my Mac at home.
The idea is that millions of small computer working with small pieces of data can accomplish the same thing as a really big computer dealing with a whole bunch of data. The program will go to the SETI web site and be assigned a packet of data. Then when ever the PC (or Mac) is idle the screen saver kicks in and starts processing the data. Once the data has been analysed the computer will go back to the web site to deliver its results and get a new packet. The analysis can take a long time, especially when it is only done in 10 or 15 minute increments.
You never know, you might just catch E.T. phoning home.
You can even go to the SETI web site and look at the statistics of the program. http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/links.html#statistics
RIKP.S.
Cam, you didn't think I'd pass up posting to this thread did you? :{)> Shar - I read about this in Scientific American. It's real and is supposed to give the computing power of parallel supercomputers in terms of scanning (if they get enough people to use it). Does anyone need to use screensavers anymore or is this just a PC thing? - Cam
>
>
> > Do you trust the group? No funny business with the screensaver worming into your computer?
> > Shar
> >
> >
> > > hi folks ~
> > >
> > > just curious ~ would anyone want to join a SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) team?
> > >
> > > all you do is run a screensaver that uses your computer processor to crunch data. it's a pretty screensaver. then all the processing-hours all of us who join rack up would contribute to our team "standings".
> > >
> > > i actually wish we could have a search for extraterrestrial compassion or wisdom or some such thing, but oh well =;) and i have noticed we are a pretty damn smart bunch.
> > >
> > > luff,
> > >
> > > mars
poster:Rik
thread:651
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20001124/msgs/670.html