The Juno Supercomputer Project? What do you think?

The ClubHouse: General Discussions - Jan -Apr. 2001: April: The Juno Supercomputer Project? What do you think?

Guruchaz

Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 08:42 pm Click here to edit this post

Some of those that have Juno email will know what this is about. Most may not. I'm going to post the letter sent to Juno members below. What do you think about this? Is it ingenious, screwy, or what?

___________________________

Dear Juno member,

I'm writing to let you know about a groundbreaking new effort we hope you will choose to participate in: the Juno Virtual Supercomputer Project. This project is designed to allow researchers to make use of a portion of the unused computing power associated with the millions of computers owned by our subscribers in order to facilitate new biomedical discoveries, advance the frontiers of scientific knowledge, and tackle other important problems whose solution will require an enormous amount of computation. We would like as many of our members as possible to participate in this project, allowing us both to maximize our contribution to advanced research and to help us cover the cost of providing the free Internet access service of which you are currently a user. Please read this message and the list of "Frequently Asked Questions" that follows for more information.

The idea behind the Virtual Supercomputer Project is simple. Today, researchers who have large, computationally demanding problems to solve often tackle them by running them on a "supercomputer," which is a computer facility that might be as powerful as several thousand separate personal computers. What Juno plans to do is offer such researchers an even more powerful tool by dividing such problems into a large number of smaller, simpler problems, then downloading each small problem to a Juno member's computer (in much the same way that we currently download e-mail and advertisements to our members' computers) to solve. The member's computer would work on solving the small problem by running various mathematical calculations during time when the computer would otherwise be idle. These calculations would be performed only when the computer's screen saver program was running, and never when the member was using the machine. Once the problem was solved, the solution would be stored temporarily on the member's computer, then delivered to Juno during the member's next connection to our central computers (much as Juno currently stores and delivers your responses to the ads you see on the service).

If you choose to participate, you will be playing a central role in what could in principle be the most ambitious scientific computing effort in history. While the personal computers owned by different Juno subscribers have different performance characteristics, recently completed preliminary studies suggest that if the computers of all of Juno's active subscriber base were simultaneously working on a single problem, they would together represent the world's fastest supercomputer (measured in terms of aggregate instructions per second). Although it would be unrealistic to expect this degree of participation in any single computing task, we are truly excited about the prospects for the Juno Virtual Supercomputer Project, which we believe has the potential to make significant contributions in a number of fields. With your help, we may be able to assist researchers in deciphering the human genome, help scientists discover new treatments for life-threatening diseases, or enable commercial clients to tackle previously unsolved problems in areas ranging from materials science to bioinformatics.

We expect to initiate the first phase of the Juno Virtual Supercomputer Project over the next few weeks. Watch your screen for an invitation to participate—you should be receiving one soon. (You should also shortly receive a copy of our most recent Service Agreement, which has been updated to incorporate terms relating to the Virtual Supercomputer Project. Please review this when it comes.) We may need to limit participation in the first phase, so if you would like to be part of the project from the start, please respond promptly when you see the invitation. Even if you don't take part in the first phase, though, we hope you will participate in the project later, if and as the project expands.

In the meantime, we want to thank you again for your support.

__________________________


THE END

Spamgirl

Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 09:09 pm Click here to edit this post

SETI has been doing it for ages with their SETI@home screensaver (and non-screensaver program which runs all the time)... now Juno's just trying to get a bite of the action (and, I'm sure, of the $$ the researchers are willing to cough up)

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 09:18 pm Click here to edit this post

Is SETI the Secret Extraterrestrial Testing Institute?

Digilady

Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 09:19 pm Click here to edit this post

Spam, that's what I =just= said in chat! LOL

Guruchaz

Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 09:38 pm Click here to edit this post

Yes, Juju, it's VERY top secret. Remember, they are sending sensitive information to everyone's hard drive.

I wonder if that's what happened to the Osprey? The missing specs that were designed to keep it in the air without crashing probably crashed along with some 14 year old's hard drive.

uh huh huh

Twiggyish

Monday, March 12, 2001 - 09:29 am Click here to edit this post

I don't like the idea. It sounds too vague. They probably will get a lot of positive responses from newer users, who will want to paricipate.
My computer is my personal property. I don't like the idea of someone using it for their own purposes.
Also, will I as a participant reap any benefits from this project? Will I get a share of the profits from some BIG discovery?

Just a thought here.

Digilady

Monday, March 12, 2001 - 10:01 am Click here to edit this post

Twigs. I'm right behind you. Plus which, my puter is next to never idle! I did sign up for the SETI thing, as I thought that was massively cool.

This one? I have security concerns. SETI was very careful about security. I don't know how careful these folks can be, with what sounds like multiple projects at the same time.

To me, it sounds like a recipe for disaster. It only takes one joker who has access to umpty machines - that ain't a thought I like.

Guruchaz

Monday, March 12, 2001 - 10:50 am Click here to edit this post

This idea is GREAT for the companies/programs that use it because the cost to them is extremely reduced. However, I agree with Twiggy. Aside from considering it virtual charity work (is it tax deductable?), what does the computer user get in return to compensate for the use of their resources? Free monthly usage of Juno Internet without the ad bars ($20 per month) would still hardly be enough compensation if SETI or whoever is going to do some serious number crunching on my system.

Mishamisha

Monday, March 12, 2001 - 06:36 pm Click here to edit this post

Actually, Gu, most Juno users pay no more than $10 per month. I signed up in December and pay $5 (but I don't know for how long :)). I personally will not be volunteering for this.

Spamgirl

Monday, March 12, 2001 - 08:48 pm Click here to edit this post

Seti - Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence

SETI is free, they make no money... I'm all for that

Juno will be raking it in... why should I slow down my computer for their gain?

Noslonna

Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 11:59 pm Click here to edit this post

Juno's money-making scheme has watchdogs all shook up
By Lisa M. Bowman ZDNet News

Juno Online Service's jump into the supercomputing business has alarmed consumer and privacy advocates, who fear the move could open subscribers' computers to vulnerabilities--including snooping by third parties such as the government...

To make more money, Juno... is hoping to sell unused processing power on member computers to third parties, who can string them together in a virtual daisy chain to form a supercomputer.

However, defenders of privacy and consumer rights worry the new requirements amount to an unprecedented exchange of personal property and data... .

the new rules will make it easier for government investigators to violate constitutional provisions against unreasonable search and seizure. For example... weak wiretapping laws could allow federal investigators to go through Juno to gain access to customers' computers without their knowledge via the software that's installed on their machines.

Juno spokesman Gary Baker downplayed such concerns... he said the computers wouldn't be connected to the Internet constantly because most of the computations would take place offline...

However, people who sign onto the service must agree to a policy that "may require you to leave your computer turned on at all times." ...

The idea of accessing consumer machines for distributed computing projects isn't new... 18 million people have donated their dormant computing power to the SETI Institute, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Other community-based programs have let people give unused computer time to scientists researching diseases...

Still, Richard Smith, chief technology officer of the Privacy Foundation, is concerned that the software Juno installs on customers' computers might make their machines less reliable, causing them to slow or crash...

Juno said it was still researching security issues. Whatever the case, Juno's plan is sure to be a test of how much consumers are willing to give up in exchange for free service.

Smith said that when he first came across the agreement it was troublesome. "I just read it over and said, 'Oh my God. Who would agree to this?'"

Guruchaz

Thursday, March 15, 2001 - 07:23 am Click here to edit this post

I agree.

I mean I agree with Smith.

Mishamisha

Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 07:04 am Click here to edit this post
If you use Juno, be sure to read the latest User Agreement, paying special attention to point 2.5, which reads in part:

"...In connection with downloading and running
the Computational Software, Juno may require you to leave your computer
turned on at all times, and may replace the "screen saver" software that
runs on your computer while the computer is turned on but you are not
using it. The screen saver software installed by Juno, which may display
advertisements or other images chosen by Juno, is an integral part of the
Computational Software and you agree not to take any action to disable or
interfere with the operation of either the screen saver software or any
other component of the Computational Software."

I find this quite alarming. Especially because it was initially put forth as an optional service, and is now mandatory. Any comments?

Guruchaz

Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 08:17 am Click here to edit this post
Yes. I may be discontinuing the use of Juno for email very soon. It sounds like a hassle.

Twiggyish

Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 08:54 am Click here to edit this post
ahhhhaa. There you go. They are looking for a way to send you advertising. Why didn't they just say that in the beginning?

Mishamisha

Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 09:48 am Click here to edit this post
No, Twig, not just advertising. They're going ahead with this supercomputer thing after all, whether we like it or not. We either use their service and agree to these bizarre terms, or find another provider. One guess which way I'm headed. Any ISP recommendations? Just good old fashioned 56k here, no DSL or Cable (yet) :)

Leap

Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 10:18 am Click here to edit this post
Hi, Misha. How are you? Good to see you posing again. I use qwest.net (previously uswest.net) and have had no problems. I don't know if they are a provider in your neck of the woods.

Twiggyish

Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 10:55 am Click here to edit this post
Misha, so they are doing the supercomputer thing and making money with advertising..sheesh!
I don't blame you for moving to another provider.

Earthlink is also good.

Mishamisha

Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 03:55 pm Click here to edit this post
Leap, so now I'm a poser? j/k :)
Yes, I have Qwest here, I'll check them out, thanks!

Twig, my Dad has Earthlink and thinks they're so-so, but he's a Mac user and I have a PC, so I wonder if that's a big issue.