Which project do you consider most practical?

[hellokeith]

I thinking instead of running several projects, I should instead focus on one project. I'm going to run that process on several PC's, a few of them being very powerful in CPU/RAM.

But I want my contribution to be meaningful. So I don't want to waste a lot of processing power on a project that is "a little too far out there", for example SETI (in my opinion). (If someone wants to provide a case for the practical applications of knowledge gained through SETI, I'm open for the discussion.)

 

[randomlinh]

I personally think that FAH is a worth while project (or anything medical related).

 

[JonB]

I participate in DPAD because I believe that pure research into physics can (and has) lead to enormous new possibilities. DPAD deals with neutrinos, muons and pions. Tiny little things with little or no mass, but the universe is built on these sub-atomic bits. It is my firm belief that we will someday find the relationship between atomic and sub-atomics and be able to do things like control gravity and change elements and isotopes (transmutation). When that happens, the galaxy and universe will be ours to inhabit in whatever scale we care to use.

SETI, is another item, though. I have a strong faith in God as Creator of the Universe. I don't know if he has created or allowed the creation of life in other areas of our universe. I know that others have stated strongly that they absolutely, positively believe we are alone. I also know that there is a song I heard in church school called "Surprise, Surprise, God is a Surprise." I don't rule out anything.

Anyway, I support DPAD because I think that scientific research into physics will allow the human race to go out and FIND any other species. I'm not content to just sit and listen to their discarded and forgetten radio transmissions. Hearing alien radio signals won't get us out there any faster.

Carpe Universe

 

[BlackMountainCow]

I guess the most practical right now with the best real world results any time soon is LHC@Home. I mean, they're already building that Hadron Collider. And in some steps of that building process, they use the stuff that's calculated via the LHC@Home project. Now that they also move the whole project to a different team and server, there'll be a constant flow of work once they get the migration done. So that's a project you actually see what you're doing, in a sense.

The other most practical is SIMAP. They only have work from time to time, but their goal, to compare proteins in a matrix with bond capabilities yields instant results - either they match, or they don't. That's also the reason they only have work from time to time.

 

[The Borg]

Hey, at the end of the day, the most practical project is a matter of opinion. As you say, SETI is a bit far out. Other's may not agree. Pick a project that tickles you.

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: The Borg
Hey, at the end of the day, the most practical project is a matter of opinion. As you say, SETI is a bit far out. Other's may not agree. Pick a project that tickles you.

I"m with The Borg on this. There aren't many projects that I see as without potential real world impact.

I like to believe my work in Rosetta@Home and Folding@Home are forwarding medical science in a way that will benefit the world today and tomorrow.

There's always a little bit of a step of faith when you participate in DC projects. If you read the home page for a project or two.. one will stand out to you.

-Sid

It's just one of those questions....... "it depends" really is the only answer I have to offer.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: Insidious

Originally posted by: The Borg
Hey, at the end of the day, the most practical project is a matter of opinion. As you say, SETI is a bit far out. Other's may not agree. Pick a project that tickles you.

I"m with The Borg on this. There aren't many projects that I see as without potential real world impact.

I like to believe my work in Rosetta@Home and Folding@Home are forwarding medical science in a way that will benefit the world today and tomorrow.

There's always a little bit of a step of faith when you participate in DC projects. If you read the home page for a project or two.. one will stand out to you.

-Sid

It's just one of those questions....... "it depends" really is the only answer I have to offer.

I am with Sid on this one. in 20-60 years (depending on your age) and they have a cure for cancer and such becuase you helped, you may decide that these medical research are the best use of computer time.

 

[GLeeM]

MalariaControl.net on BOINC.

This project looks for ways to help prevent the spread of malaria and the best ways to use limited available resources to help the most sick people.

What is it, millions? die each year from this treatable disease.

Your contribution could save lives this year!

Here is more info.

 

[rabrittain]

I tend to side with a few others who think that SETI is a little far out. I am sure, however, that there a those who think that it is important. When i first signed on with BOINC, I did some crunching on the Einstein@home project, but then I thought -- What the hell are we going to do with a pulsar when we find it. I switched to a project that has, in my opinion, more of a real world application, Rosetta@home. I recently saw "An Inconvenient Truth", and I am much more concerned about global warming than I was. I'm considering changing to a project that could help us have a greater understanding of the weather. We need to find a way to turn this thing around before it's too late. I think that I have to agree that you must pick a project that interests you.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: GLeeM
MalariaControl.net on BOINC.

This project looks for ways to help prevent the spread of malaria and the best ways to use limited available resources to help the most sick people.

What is it, millions? die each year from this treatable disease.

Your contribution could save lives this year!

Here is more info.

I don't really see how Malaria research needs CPU power to help analyze data. Stopping the spread of malaria isn't that difficult, simply eliminate stagnate water. Mosquitoes cannot breed without standing water.

Regardless, my DC project of choice is S@H. Its an astronomy related project with the potential to shake the world to its very core.

I have run R@H, FAH, and E@H in the past though, but only to about 10k credit in each.