Hi everybody,

I'm a Caltech grad now getting my Master's in journalism from USC, and I'm working on a big assignment to report on distributed computing as a phenomenon that "average people" can get involved in (my professor's words, not mine).

The news is Einstein@home coming out, but I think it would be really valuable to hear from some folks who have been doing the SETI@home thing. Do you folks feel that these projects are just suited for "geeky" types who adore the esoteric science they represent? Or is it something that everybody can get involved in and feel like they're Doing Something Good for Science?

What's the big deal anyway? Is it fun, or does it simply make you feel good when you wake up in the morning to know you've helped advance knowledge while you sleep? Why should Joe Schmoe care? That's the kind of question I've got to answer to make my article work, and while I've got some answers of my own, I'd like to hear what you folks think.

Many thanks!
Joseph

p.s. You can email me at josephvc at USC dot EDU if you'd like, too.

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> Hi everybody,
>
> I'm a Caltech grad now getting my Master's in journalism from USC, and I'm
> working on a big assignment to report on distributed computing as a phenomenon
> that "average people" can get involved in (my professor's words, not mine).
>
> The news is Einstein@home coming out, but I think it would be really valuable
> to hear from some folks who have been doing the SETI@home thing. Do you folks
> feel that these projects are just suited for "geeky" types who adore the
> esoteric science they represent? Or is it something that everybody can get
> involved in and feel like they're Doing Something Good for Science?
>
> What's the big deal anyway? Is it fun, or does it simply make you feel good
> when you wake up in the morning to know you've helped advance knowledge while
> you sleep? Why should Joe Schmoe care? That's the kind of question I've got
> to answer to make my article work, and while I've got some answers of my own,
> I'd like to hear what you folks think.
>
> Many thanks!
> Joseph
>
> p.s. You can email me at josephvc at USC dot EDU if you'd like, too.
>

To get an idea of the people doing SETI, read their profiles.

---

> Hi everybody,
>
> I'm a Caltech grad now getting my Master's in journalism from USC, and I'm
> working on a big assignment to report on distributed computing as a phenomenon
> that "average people" can get involved in (my professor's words, not mine).
>
> The news is Einstein@home coming out, but I think it would be really valuable
> to hear from some folks who have been doing the SETI@home thing. Do you folks
> feel that these projects are just suited for "geeky" types who adore the
> esoteric science they represent? Or is it something that everybody can get
> involved in and feel like they're Doing Something Good for Science?
>
> What's the big deal anyway? Is it fun, or does it simply make you feel good
> when you wake up in the morning to know you've helped advance knowledge while
> you sleep? Why should Joe Schmoe care? That's the kind of question I've got
> to answer to make my article work, and while I've got some answers of my own,
> I'd like to hear what you folks think.
>
> Many thanks!
> Joseph
>
> p.s. You can email me at josephvc at USC dot EDU if you'd like, too.
>

Sure, anybody can do it. But like Stephen said, read some of the profiles. I just hope that you don't pass out too much profile info about SETI users though Joseph.

For me... well, just read the profile.

Best wishes!

> Hi everybody,
>
> I'm a Caltech grad now getting my Master's in journalism from USC, and I'm
> working on a big assignment to report on distributed computing as a phenomenon
> that "average people" can get involved in (my professor's words, not mine).
>
> The news is Einstein@home coming out, but I think it would be really valuable
> to hear from some folks who have been doing the SETI@home thing. Do you folks
> feel that these projects are just suited for "geeky" types who adore the
> esoteric science they represent? Or is it something that everybody can get
> involved in and feel like they're Doing Something Good for Science?
>
> What's the big deal anyway? Is it fun, or does it simply make you feel good
> when you wake up in the morning to know you've helped advance knowledge while
> you sleep? Why should Joe Schmoe care? That's the kind of question I've got
> to answer to make my article work, and while I've got some answers of my own,
> I'd like to hear what you folks think.
>
> Many thanks!
> Joseph
>
> p.s. You can email me at josephvc at USC dot EDU if you'd like, too.
>
Go to this web site:
http://distributedcomputing.info/projects.html
It will show all, or at least most, of the DC projects out there.
Personally I think people just want to feel like they are "making a difference". If we are not "making a difference" what the heck is the point of doing anything? I mean why help search for ET if we cannot truly help? If we are just spinning our wheels, then we should just stop. But I don't believe we are spinning our wheels. Neither are the folks at Einstein, LHC, Climate Prediction or the Folding folks, or, or, or, etc. We each have our own pet projects we would like to see our unused cycles go to, and maybe even some that are not ready for us to help with yet, but the point is we are willing to help, if it is easy and within our abilities.
Personally I know nothing about Climate Prediction, or Folding protiens for drug research or finding ET, or, or, etc. BUT I can HELP with those projects thru DC!!

---

> Hi everybody,
>
> I'm a Caltech grad now getting my Master's in journalism from USC, and I'm
> working on a big assignment to report on distributed computing as a phenomenon
> that "average people" can get involved in (my professor's words, not mine).
>
> The news is Einstein@home coming out, but I think it would be really valuable
> to hear from some folks who have been doing the SETI@home thing. Do you folks
> feel that these projects are just suited for "geeky" types who adore the
> esoteric science they represent? Or is it something that everybody can get
> involved in and feel like they're Doing Something Good for Science?
>
> What's the big deal anyway? Is it fun, or does it simply make you feel good
> when you wake up in the morning to know you've helped advance knowledge while
> you sleep? Why should Joe Schmoe care? That's the kind of question I've got
> to answer to make my article work, and while I've got some answers of my own,
> I'd like to hear what you folks think.
>
> Many thanks!
> Joseph
>
> p.s. You can email me at josephvc at USC dot EDU if you'd like, too.
>


Every kind of person signs up for DC projects. Some just want to compete, some just want to keep their computers busy, others really want to be a part of something that could possibly change the world. Me, I'm a bit of all three. :) If I had to pick only one reason why I first signed up for Seti@home (way back in 1999), it would be the science. I like the idea that I'm helping to accomplish something HUGE. Finding an ET signal will certainly change the world, and I want to be a part of that. The upcoming Planetquest project is the same thing.

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You will be assimilated...bunghole!

Hi Joseph

I saw SETI@home as my chance to do something important for a project I believed in - the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. A chance to be a scientist without being a scientist, if you know what I mean ;) It didn't require much of me, and especially it didn't require a scientists mind or a very long education in the appropriate fields to be a part of that search. I actually couldn't wait for the project to officially launch so I joined ahead of time :D

Personally I have no idea about the science behind it, or any of the other projects that I contribute to, but then again, I don't really have to - I just add to a huge supercomputer that scientists have available to them - a much needed supercomputer larger than anything seen before - makng things possible the scientists would propably never have been able to if it wasn't there. Now that is something that makes me feel important to the scientific community no matter how small a contribution I make to this supercomputer.

The best thing about DC project is, you can be a part of it in many ways. You can put the software on your computer and let it run in the background and forget about it, and still be an active contributer - or you can join in on the competition fun - or you can help getting more participants - or whatever suits you :) So in my view, anyone who has a computer and internet access from that computer can be a part of it.

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I can sort of relate participating in BOINC projects, for me at least, to what it must be like to be a guard at Buckingham Palace. I don't in any way influence the project, just like the guard doesn't participate in whatever goes on inside the palace. The only choice I continue to make is to devote my time to "standing guard" by keeping my machine on and processing something that seems useful, important, and interesting. In that way, I do still feel a little like one of the elite, if a geeky sort of elite.

Thank you all for your comments. I'll be working on an early draft of my article this weekend; your thoughts will continue to be particularly welcome throughout the week, until my deadline on Friday the 25th. :-)

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If you publish your article on the web.... come back and give us a link

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