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Any answers for this man?

TAandy

TAandy

Diamond Member
Can anyone provide this guy with some interesting answers?
I do it because I want to help, sounds a bit lame, but that's basically why 🙂

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy-

Yep, I?m aware Lifemapper?s screensaver computing is done.

What I find so interesting is something I learned while talking to Jim Beach. I?m working on a possible article for Science about how researchers are taking advantage of massively parallel computing with screensavers. I guessed that the advantage would be that you can pull off brute computational tasks beyond the ability of even the fastest supercomputers. But also, I had expected Jim to tell me that one of the disadvantages of this approach is that you need to convince a whole lot of people to take part. That?s to say, researchers also need to become really good internet marketers to get the critical mass needed. BUT... and this is what surprised me... Jim explained that at least with the Lifemapper project, there was in fact far more enthusiasm (and hence computing power) out there than they could effectively use. And he said that the bulk of the computing was done by just a few well-organized teams (such as yours). What are they after?--I asked. Money? Prizes? Not at all!--he said. They just like doing it. Maybe they?re after... the glory?

So what?s the story? How did this all begin? And how do you guys have so much computing power??

I?d love to give you guys some credit if I can by at least writing about it.

Cheers!
John


Hi John
I won't be available until late Saturday afternoon, early evening.
For my part at least, there really isn't much to do.
Just download the Lifemapper client and run it, it's that simple.
If you still want to ask me any questions feel free to email me and I'll do
the best I can to answer them.
If I can't I can point you in the direction of a lot of people who surely
can.

Cheers,
Andy

PS
Are you aware the Distributed Computing part of Lifemapper has finished?



----- Original Message -----
From: "John Bohannon"
To: andy
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:09 PM
Subject: distributed computing


>
> Dear Andy-
>
> I am writing an article for the journal Science about distributed
> computing.
> I was on the phone today with Jim Beach from the Lifemapper project. He
> told me about your community and I found it fascinating. Could I ask you
> a
> few questions about it?
>
> Is there a time/number I could reach you? I'm based in Berlin, so our
> time
> zones are similar enough.
>
> Cheers,
> John
>
>
>
> --
> John Bohannon, PhD
> Contributing Writer, Science Magazine
> Fulbright Scholar, Berlin
> www.johnbohannon.org
>
> Post:
> Choriner-Str. 74
> 10119 Berlin
> Germany
>





 
Wow the TeAm could be famous! 😀

Hey Andy, how about inviting John here and we could have a real great chat and he can get to know the inner workings of DC from all the TeAmMates! 😉
 
Originally posted by: amdxborg
Wow the TeAm could be famous! 😀

Hey Andy, how about inviting John here and we could have a real great chat and he can get to know the inner workings of DC from all the TeAmMates! 😉
Click to expand...

I'm going to, just hoping to get some answers for him first 🙂
 
Good idea! We can either do it right here in the forums or if he needs info faster than Wolfsraider's chat would be a good place to do that as well.

:beer:
 
i think he will have to register. even if he doesn't register i think he can still read posts and based on that, he could probably write up a good story alone. i think this is a great idea and im glad someone is in a position of power to write about us lonely crunchers that contribute to projects that joe average computer user thinks are 'geeky' and 'lame'. i get ridiculed by people i know all the time for running DC projects and i tell myself not to get angry because they are just ignorant and if they took the time to understand they would either respect it more, or get hooked themselves! bring him to the forums and let him loose on the board :beer:
 
Originally posted by: Unforgiven
i think he will have to register. even if he doesn't register i think he can still read posts and based on that, he could probably write up a good story alone. i think this is a great idea and im glad someone is in a position of power to write about us lonely crunchers that contribute to projects that joe average computer user thinks are 'geeky' and 'lame'. i get ridiculed by people i know all the time for running DC projects and i tell myself not to get angry because they are just ignorant and if they took the time to understand they would either respect it more, or get hooked themselves! bring him to the forums and let him loose on the board :beer:
Click to expand...

Done!
Emailed him the address so let's wait and see what happens 😀
 
So what?s the story? How did this all begin? And how do you guys have so much computing power??

Because we're nuts!!! :Q 😛

Okay, I'm nuts! How many people do you know that buy and build computer systems solely for the production of Distributed Computing projects? How many people do you know who are addicted to raw statistics? How many people do you know who have higher electric bills than their car payments? How many people do you know that have bid hundreds of dollars(and won) to acquire Seti@Home workunits to advance their TeAm's ranking in the stats?

You know ONE now. 😉

PS: Oh, and lest anyone forget, I'm still dedicated to the TeAm -- I've got a different model/color Blazer now, but the LICENSE PLATE is still the same. 😀

 
Originally posted by: networkman
So what?s the story? How did this all begin? And how do you guys have so much computing power??

Because we're nuts!!! :Q 😛

Okay, I'm nuts! How many people do you know that buy and build computer systems solely for the production of Distributed Computing projects? How many people do you know who are addicted to raw statistics? How many people do you know who have higher electric bills than their car payments? How many people do you know that have bid hundreds of dollars(and won) to acquire Seti@Home workunits to advance their TeAm's ranking in the stats?

You know ONE now. 😉

PS: Oh, and lest anyone forget, I'm still dedicated to the TeAm -- I've got a different model/color Blazer now, but the LICENSE PLATE is still the same. 😀
Click to expand...

LMAO 😀 😀
Wish I'd thought of an answer like that :beer:
 
Originally posted by: TAandy
(Do) researchers also need to become really good internet marketers to get the critical mass needed.
Click to expand...
They just need someone to keep the servers going.
A public relations person that knew first hand about the DC culture would be an asset. That way the researchers would not do anything stupid, which has happened.

Originally posted by: TAandy
So what?s the story? How did this all begin?
Click to expand...

When a new project starts, someone from the TeAm hears about it, starts a team for TeAm Anandtech in that project, and lets others know about it. Other DC teams find out and the competition begins.
We have many friendly rivalries.

Also: An individual might get involved because he knows someone with a disease that one of the projects is looking for a cure. Or has an interest in the subject of the project. Or spent all this money on a computer and doesn't think it is doing as much as it could, it just sits there doing nothing.

Originally posted by: TAandy
And how do you guys have so much computing power??
Click to expand...

Some TeAmmates have lots of computers, most people just contribute with what they have. When you have 100 people with one or two computers "crunching WUs" (work units), you have a lot of computer power.

"One WU at a time!"

We are a TeAm. 🙂
 
DC combines the 2 greatest things in life: Helping the world be a better place, and getting a high score. :thumbsup:
 
I think a Team Interview would be in order here. Maybe Wolfy could set up a special Username and Password Just for him to visit Red eye express. We could set up a date and time for all to log on and have a chat.


Just a though


😉
 
Wasn't sure he got my email as I got no response, so I sent it again

"Hi Andy! Sorry, I?m swamped writing a Guardian article. I?m going to dive into the distributed computing story in a day or 2.
-John"
 
Anyone remember this? I'd forgotten 😱
Emailed him earlier and got this reply

"Not dead at all! It?s slated for the 6-May issue on computing. I?ve already been given the green light on the story.

I?ve just been bogged down with this heavy couple of stories related to my trip to Libya. I WILL be getting back to you with a flurry of questions. Fear not.

Till then!
John


'Hi John,
Just wondering what happened to the article.
Is it dead?

Cheers,
Andy'"
 
Originally posted by: networkman
So what?s the story? How did this all begin? And how do you guys have so much computing power??

Because we're nuts!!! :Q 😛

Okay, I'm nuts! How many people do you know that buy and build computer systems solely for the production of Distributed Computing projects? How many people do you know who are addicted to raw statistics? How many people do you know who have higher electric bills than their car payments? How many people do you know that have bid hundreds of dollars(and won) to acquire Seti@Home workunits to advance their TeAm's ranking in the stats?

You know ONE now. 😉

PS: Oh, and lest anyone forget, I'm still dedicated to the TeAm -- I've got a different model/color Blazer now, but the LICENSE PLATE is still the same. 😀
Click to expand...

Short of buying WU's, that sums it up for me! 😀

 
Finally, got this today

"Hi Andy!

Finally, finally, finally... I am done with Libya and it?s time to do my article about distributed computing for Science.

I?m going to try to register now at the anandtech.com forum.

What?s your last name, by the way, and where are you based again?...

cheers,
John"

😀 😀
 
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