Interest Falling Away [2]
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Interest Falling Away [2]
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 Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 19 Jul 00 Posts: 3898 Credit: 1,158,042 RAC: 0 
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The other thread was locked and I will pick this up with a new observation. The question is: ""Why are SAH people losing interest?" Firstly, are the losing interest, or they driven away by some action by the project, other participants, or other? Are they only leaving SAH or the entire BOINC Community? My reasons for leaving were covered in the middle of the prior thread ... But, in the most basic terms I was abused by one project and all the other projects said that what that project did had nothing to do with them. Secondly, I had been pointing out that we are a community ... with the BS over the fence and sometimes a scuffle in the street ... but that does not make us less dependent on each other. In the baldest terms, well, I was the prophet in his own country ... :) No respect ... and alone ... If we want clean streets we need sometimes need to do more than not litter ... sometimes we have to go out and clean things up ... It has taken two years since I told you (well those that were here) that you were on the path to destruction. Sniping at each other, not honerible disagreements, but destructive bitter and rancourous fights ... it gets uglier if one of the partisans in the fight has the cloak of project authority to hide behind. When I laid out another of my plans, well, it got the same basic reception that most of the rest of them did... The most commonly expressed feeling was that it, the Rights and Responsibilities, was not needed. Well, who was right? If you get into a tizzy with a SAH person who looks at the dispute from the neutral corner? The same can be said from the project's perspective ... who defends the project from a neutral stance? The other objection was that the projects were staffed by honerable people and if they abused the participants they would "vote with their feet", could that be what is happening here at SAH? Or, is it as I said in other screeds that BOINC is too hard to use ... the help does not help ... the community is more likely to mock a new participant than to help them ... a task i was glad that others better suited could tackle ... But, is the extent of your commitment to SAH only to send in $10? Or would you be willing to answer the call ... ask not what SAH can do for you ... but what you can do for SAH ... Again, as I said in the now locked thread, I see a straw or two in the wind ... which of you fair weather patriots is willing to actually do some work if those straws turn out to be something more? ID: 733114 ·  |
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Brian Silvers Send message Joined: 11 Jun 99 Posts: 1681 Credit: 492,052 RAC: 0
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I'm losing interest because of the lack of post-analysis. Yes, I get the idea that there needs to be money and equipment. I'm not in a position to help. That said, I'm being driven away by people who cast aspersions based on the lack of a green star by my name, then when questioned about it, they bring up how they value "all contributions". If that is the case, then why did they bring it up? Why are people not able to separate the distinction of not liking being beat up about something that, as I was taught, was not to be boasted about, is something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from a donation "request"? I have to go to bed. I would like to say more, but I feel that with feelings such as they are right now, it would do more harm than good... ID: 733119 · |
KWSN Ekky Ekky Ekky  Send message Joined: 25 May 99 Posts: 944 Credit: 52,956,491 RAC: 67 
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I have to go to bed. I would like to say more, but I feel that with feelings such as they are right now, it would do more harm than good... There are indeed some strange folk inhabiting the SAH universe. Goodness knows what ET will think of some of them! I am beginning to suspect that the best course of action at present is to ignore all message boards and just get on with whatever suits you best. I myself am not losing interest. After nearly 9 years of it, why should I do so now? However: I should like more information about what is happening to all our data. I should like to see the science newsletters giving some actual useful information - and far more regularly too. I should like some proper analytical work done on the data - or is there not enough yet? I should like to see more money being contributed to the project. I wish I could afford more. I don't care who gives what or why or if they display a green, purple or any other star. I wish governments / Berkeley would provide far better funding to science projects. I think the Seti team does a fantastic job within their constraints and deserve congratulations rather than brickbats. I want the whole project to get some proper professional publicity. I am all in favour of us all avoiding paranoia and anger. Can everyone please have a virtual collective hug and stop the rancour? That is altogether far too many "I"s but you will all understand. Whoever the powers to be are or consider themselves to be quite clearly need to look very seriously indeed at the many issues that have been raised and take some proper, sensible and considered actions. A personal pronoun for the last time: I do not want SAH to die!  
ID: 733127 · |
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Brian Silvers Send message Joined: 11 Jun 99 Posts: 1681 Credit: 492,052 RAC: 0
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I couldn't get to sleep, because this is bugging me some... Anyway, I thought I'd point people to this song. It claims it is a "video", but it's really just the audio... Evanescence - "The Only One" (aka "Tuna Afternoon") There are some live versions of this song out there, but I'm not a fan of them live. In many cases her voice is "exhausted" and broken-sounding when performing live...but I digress... According to this Evanescence Wiki, Amy Lee states that the song was about the close-mindedness that she encountered when she was younger and in Little Rock. Given the Goth culture (sorry any viewing Goths), I'd say that many people would have differing views from her. This is the only musical comparison I can come up with at, oh, 4am EDT, that fits some of the close-mindedness that people are talking about with the unwillingness to let conversations flow where they may so long as people aren't hostile and people wanting to hear only the "easy answers"... Quoting from that Wiki page:
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Jeffrey  Send message Joined: 21 Nov 03 Posts: 4793 Credit: 26,029 RAC: 0 |
I do not want SAH to die! Neither does my little iMac G3... She's been crunchin for SETI her whole life... ;)  It may not be 1984 but George Orwell sure did see the future . . .
ID: 733133 · |
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Brian Silvers Send message Joined: 11 Jun 99 Posts: 1681 Credit: 492,052 RAC: 0
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Bah, I see going to sleep is going to be pointless, since I need to get up at 6:45EDT, which is a mere 143 minutes away when I start typing... Tis ok, I can crash later... I should like more information about what is happening to all our data. As would I. Yet some would assert that for you and I to actually be agreeing right now, I must have a star over beside my name. Perhaps that is not what they mean, but it comes across that way. It's like you and I have the same idea, but if I say it, it's discounted where as when you say it, it has more value. All this because of some pixels on a screen? There is no way that, unless they contact Pete or someone else inside the project and someone divulges whether or not that I've donated that they truly have any idea. They can speculate until "Kingdom Come", but they still only have 50/50 odds of getting it right. Even if I did have a "green star", as someone else pointed out, what if suddenly a "green star" wasn't enough? What if it became that you had to have a green star and at least a RAC of 1000? I believe I've seen something similar floated around on these message boards before. How about Green Star + RAC of 1000 + at least 5 computers? My point is, when does the "I've done more than you have" stop? I was brought up in the Southern Baptist Convention. For those not in the United States or not up on various denominations, Billy Graham considers himself a member of the SBC. Of course, so does Bill Clinton. "For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory..." Anyway, one of the fundamental tenants of the belief is that one does not go about bragging about their good deeds. God will know, and that is all that is important. As such, even if I had donated, you would not know it by a green star over there.... <---------- So, let's say that I have actually donated $10,000 USD to SETI, but I haven't activated my little star, because that's the way I was brought up... Let's say I come here to the forum and post a concern and am very adamant about it. So then one of the "greenies" come along and tell me that I had better put my money where my mouth is... So, let's say that I get so offended by the abuse of the "greenie" that I decide that either I will never donate again, or even worse, request a refund. What then? What got accomplished by the confrontation? That is the VERY REAL DANGER in doing what these people do, but yet they do it all the time and find themselves righteous for doing so... So, I say to those folks, and you know who you are, consider what you are doing when you start thinking that your green star makes you and your opinion have more weight / worth than someone who does not have a green star. ID: 733136 · |
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KWSN Ekky Ekky Ekky Send message Joined: 25 May 99 Posts: 944 Credit: 52,956,491 RAC: 67
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I can only reiterate what I said before: "I don't care who gives what or why or if they display a green, purple or any other star." What matters is the project and getting it right. My own ignorance of how the whole thing works lets me right out of the mechanics and electronics of it. All I really know is that SAH runs when I switch on my computer. I don't give a fig for the rest and just wish some would try to be CONstructive rather than DEstructive. With you all the way on that. Crunching 1 cobblestone a year still counts for me. Everything and everyone contributes and ought to make for one happy family.
ID: 733147 · |
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Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 19 Jul 00 Posts: 3898 Credit: 1,158,042 RAC: 0
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What matters is the project and getting it right. My own ignorance of how the whole thing works lets me right out of the mechanics and electronics of it. All I really know is that SAH runs when I switch on my computer. I don't give a fig for the rest and just wish some would try to be CONstructive rather than DEstructive. A couple of thoughts in here ... Actually, in a way, not it does not ... in my opinion, for example, you are the perfect quinee pig for testing... both the application, the documentation, the web sites, the science pages ... I started a thread over at ABC in NC about how their "explanation" does not explain anything at all ... I can take the general trend of the answers in one way or another ... But, this is the general thrust of what I have been trying to say for some time now. If you cannot explain it so that people can get excited about it ... why should they be as interested as you are? In the case of ABC, how many of these math questions remain unanswered to day? Not stated, though they are working one one of them ... How will solving this problem shed light on other problems? HInted at, but not explained. How does the process work ... they have a thesis and something about the quality number, but fundamentally, though someone's six year old can understand it (which is fine, but does not help me unless we are going to deliver that 6 year old to anyone that wants to understand)... The point is, and this seems to escape most of the scientists that use BOINC is that their project is a PRODUCT that they are trying to sell ... more sales, more participants, more work done ... How do you sell someone that they need to take a bath every day ( you don't, not really), convince them that they stink and that "cleanliness is next to godliness" ... seriously, the whole thing about taking a shower/bath everyday was to sell more soap, nothing more or less ... But, as Crocodile Dundee shows, well, "Irresistable" does not necessarily do what it says it will do ... and a grarage sale does not allow you to get a spare garage ... To be honest, and for what it is worth, I have not seen destructive criticism here... unless you think that is what *I* am about. If so, I am sorry about that ... but that is not the intent. Just like my critique of ABC in that one instance all my effort is to point to the serious problems that exist within the BOINC System and in some cases solely within SAH. I have no ill will towards anyone, nor resentment, nor anger ... though it is hard sometimes, my termprement is very much like Mr. Spock in Star Trek ... but going to a blighted neighborhood and pointing to houses in disrepair and poinitng out the defects in detail is only destructive if you are attempting to use that to prove that the poor deserve their fate because they do not paint their houses. If you are doing so because you are pointing out that the overall policies of society are such that the poor cannot feed themselves much less paint their houses ... a whole nother matter ... ID: 733228 · |
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Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 19 Jul 00 Posts: 3898 Credit: 1,158,042 RAC: 0
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Aside from the fact I find this a non-specific rant ... this is a fair approximation of a lot of what I said ... :) When you are managing on a skimpy budget you had better learn how to streach the resources. I ate a lot of fried Spam and rice when first married (and mac and cheese) ... UCB has sigularly in my opinion, failed to manage their most precious and useful resource, their participants ... fingers not wroking well, and that is not a good sign ... sigh ... ID: 733230 · |
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Snagletooth Send message Joined: 8 Jan 01 Posts: 22 Credit: 196,934 RAC: 0 |
I think it is a mistake to assume one’s particular frustration is the same cause of other people’s abandonment. Well I’m feeling brave this morning(or maybe reckless)so here goes.... I think we should start with a slight shift in perspective. NO one posting here is a truly representative cruncher. The vast majority of crunchers never post. I suspect the vast majority never even visit the message boards once, much less with any regularity. It is an extreme minority who tune their machines for maximum crunching power much less build whole new machines just for crunching. It is a minority who forgo screen savers and run their machines 24/7. The truth is we are nobodies and those of you with crunching farms who donate money are the biggest nobodies of all. I don’t mean to suggest that you or your opinions are unimportant but that they are not the likely concerns of those users who have left, many without completing a single workunit. If the question is how do we maximize the crunching power of the project then surely the retention of the more casual(for lack of a better word)users is vital. The deadline scheme and continued support of older clients seems to support this notion, with the emphasis on not inadvertently or deliberately cutting off older machines which are only on for part of the day and only crunch when idle. And are owned by folks who only know their computers through the software they use and seldom go through the danger of updating that without some truly compelling reason(i.e. it provides a fix they need for work). My impression was these policies were developed not from some sense of generosity but from practical need. Losing a handful of big time crunchers simply doesn’t compare to the steady erosion of the causal user base (or the failure of this base to grow). I believe Eric once posted with some numbers to support this notion but I can’t find the post at this moment(does anyone remember this?have a link?). I have a vague memory that a survey was sent out targeted to those Seti Classic crunchers who didn’t make the jump to BOINC. Does anyone remember this? Absent a new survey the best we can do is to remember that most users do not post and are not only less passionate about SAH, computers or volunteer computing than the average poster but are less knowledgeable. It will take more than our own passion to keep them crunching. Snags I see Paul has posted while I was struggling to write this (and now the boards are down for the Tuesday maintenance period). I think he and I are on the same or at least very close paths here. Which reminds me that I think his emphasis on documentation is right on target. As is his emphasis on the BOINC community and not just the SAH community but I think I'll save an expansion of those thoughts for another post. ID: 733319 · |
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Snagletooth Send message Joined: 8 Jan 01 Posts: 22 Credit: 196,934 RAC: 0 |
Further long winded musings on the best way to approach this issue: It’s possible that a project may think they only need a couple thousand crunchers for a year or so and can get by attracting those who get their fix from alpha projects or credit chasers who will crunch anything that offers them big credit numbers. The project could put the word out to a few teams and garner enough power to complete their experiment. I don’t know if such a project has ever existed but it certainly isn’t SAH. Most projects need a larger and more sustainable base of crunchers. And so I repeat that while we search for why people leave SAH we should keep in mind two points: That most crunchers don’t post and are probably less passionate and less knowledgeable than the average poster regarding computers, the science of a particular project, and/or BOINC AND That projects need these crunchers as much as they need those who are knowledgeable and passionate about computers, the science of a particular project and/or BOINC Third point: While many here started with Seti Classic we weren’t all motivated by a desire to find ETI. Some were computer science junkies, some got a thrill out doing science while they drove a truck, tended a counter, kept the bookkeeping or otherwise spent most of their time far from a lab. Many crunchers today were never part of Seti Classic. Reading boards at other projects makes it clear that many are motivated by fear of the cancer that runs in their families or grief from the loss of a loved one or just the hopeful, expansive high they get from being part of something larger than themselves. It is with these folks that we must successfully communicate along two avenues: 1. the computer stuff: how to install BOINC, attach to projects, how to tell if you’ve been successful, etc. The survey on the BOINC site makes it clear most folks quit because they can’t get or keep the software running. There are some fabulous volunteer helpers on the boards but I suspect a lot of people never even find the boards and even when they find them don’t know what to ask to get the answers they need. I would suggest the main page of BOINC and every project have a prominent link to the same portal for this basic information. There’s some decent stuff out there but it’s scattered about, incomplete and/or out of date and thus not all that useful for the intended audience. The form and content should be discussed by as many projects and crunchers who we can entice to participate. (hmm, need for cross project cooperation may need a separate post) 2. the SAH specific stuff : why crunch, why crunch for this project this project as opposed to some other project, why persist when you are struggling to make the software work? If you joined because you are interested in the search for ETI then you are probably going to want some regular progress reports and many of the suggestions made in this and the previous and related threads speak to this need. Some folks read the front page and never make it to the boards, others read the boards but forget to look at the front page. The call seems to be for more organized, regularly produced and prominently displayed information. If you joined out of interest in computers or volunteer computing then maybe you’re still here out of appreciation for Seti Classic’s groundbreaking role. Or SAH’s continuing role as a test bed for at least some of BOINC’s new features(I know about Alpha Boinc but doesn’t the backend server stuff get tossed here first?) What keeps you crunching for SAH? Snags ID: 733343 · |
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Snagletooth Send message Joined: 8 Jan 01 Posts: 22 Credit: 196,934 RAC: 0 |
Third in a series (part of Snags ongoing attempt to show that if everyone(not only at SAH or BOINC; this is a lifelong, worldwide, all encompassing personal project) just saw things the way Snags sees things everything would be hunky-dory:) My emphasis on cross project cooperation stems from my understanding of the average cruncher: interested in computers, the science of a particular project or volunteer computing but not particularly knowledgeable or passionate or at least not knowledgeable and passionate about all three. If they find their way here how to we keep them? Should we take a step back and look at how they got here in the first place? If they hear about volunteer computing and start at the BOINC website they look through a list of projects, spot SAH and say “Hey, I’m gonna find ET!†Or they might see the longevity of the project, the large base of volunteers, the wide array of platforms supported and think “This looks safe. They’ve been doing this a long time, it’s working for lots of people, I should be able to make it work, too without screwing up my computerâ€Â. If they can’t make it work it’s most likely because of BOINC(and/or it’s insufficient documentation) but it’s SAH’s loss. The same could be said of any other project the user might pick. If they hear about SAH or Rosetta or MalariaControl in the news or from a friend they might enter this world directly through the project website. If they aren’t successfull completing workunits it might be because of BOINC or it might be because their computer just isn’t suited to that project. If they give up, they give up not only on that project but most likely on every other project as well. Which is why I think it’s important for the projects AND all of us successful crunchers to engage in some cross project collaboration. I may not be able to run CPN now but perhaps the opportunity will arise sometime in the future. Don’t you think it’s more likely that I’ll run CPN on my new machine if I got BOINC successfully running the first time even if I had to go with my second choice project? If CPN, in cooperation with the other projects, can convince me of the importance of not wasting those spare cpu cycles and help steer me to success with another project don’t you think I’m going to go back to them as soon as I get the chance? And encourage others to crunch for them if they can? Or let’s say my true love is Rosetta but it doesn’t run very efficiently on my ppc mac. I’ll make a deal with you: you run Rosetta as a backup project and I’ll run your favorite project as one of my backups. Because we both learned, in our initial introduction to our favorite project and to BOINC that adding a second or third project is a best practice. And for the SAH centrics: all the reasons someone might choose SAH as a first project are also decent reasons for choosing SAH as a backup project. Well, I’m giddy now, I think I need to go eat:) Snags ID: 733390 · |
Jim-R.  Send message Joined: 7 Feb 06 Posts: 1494 Credit: 194,148 RAC: 0
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First, Snagletooth, Welcome to the SETI at Home "Politics" forum. We are a little more relaxed in our discussions here than can be tolerated elsewhere. I feel just like you. I am fairly new at this myself, only being involved for about two years. (Due to computer/internet restrictions I wasn't able to participate any earlier, yet I've followed this project from the beginning.) But from a "newbie" at SETI itself but a regular participant in the forums is the reason I welcomed you here. You are just the new perspective we need on the "goings-on" here.
I agree wholeheartedly. I feel like this is the big reason we see so many leaving the project shortly after joining. What is needed, in my opinion, and I've heard it expressed more than once here in the forums, is a "foolproof installation" procedure where anybody that is interested can download the software and easily join any project they are interested in. I realize it's easy enough now, at least for us that are fairly familiar with computers. But what I'm talking about is something similar to SETI Classic, where you download a "screensaver". For many people that is all they want. For those, we (IE BOINC, Not SETI) should make a package that simply asks for their desired uername and email address then gives a list of projeces with a brief explanation of what they will be doing and what kind of screensaver they will receive for joining that project. For people that like rotating screensavers, join multiple projects. In other words, do like SETI Classic did... Sell the idea of a free screensaver! If any project is unable to supply a screensaver graphic then supply a default BOINC screensaver. Make it pretty, or make it interesting, it doesn't matter. Advertise it as "Eye candy for when you are not using your computer." This portion should be made "idiot-proof", if you know what I mean. Then pop up a message that flashes briefly on the screen at random times saying "If you want to get more involved with the actual science done, check XXX websites."
1. the computer stuff: how to install BOINC, attach to projects, how to tell if you’ve been successful, etc. The survey on the BOINC site makes it clear most folks quit because they can’t get or keep the software running. There are some fabulous volunteer helpers on the boards but I suspect a lot of people never even find the boards and even when they find them don’t know what to ask to get the answers they need. I would suggest the main page of BOINC and every project have a prominent link to the same portal for this basic information. There’s some decent stuff out there but it’s scattered about, incomplete and/or out of date and thus not all that useful for the intended audience. The form and content should be discussed by as many projects and crunchers who we can entice to participate. (hmm, need for cross project cooperation may need a separate post) [/quote] I agree there should be a common "meeting ground", and I would suggest it be incorporated into BOINC itself to give the information on how to get to it, just as it now does in providing links to the project's websites, etc. But create what Paul was trying at one time, to create a universal point where anybody running BOINC, no matter what project(s) they are attached to, can go to get information. It could be just a page with links to the different projects, etc. information pages. But at least this would give them a start toward finding the information they need. Paul's idea is wonderful, an All Inclusive BOINC WIKI, but in reality, I doubt if any one group of individuals could pull it off because it would require coordination between *every* project, and *every* project would have to put all their information into this one reqository. [As an aside comment} I wrote a FAQ about two years ago when the very first "advanced" SAH app was released. It was posted in the Number Crunching SAH forum only. Since then I have still maintained that FAQ, but due to the problems with maintaining a FAQ on these forums, I elected to transfer them to my own website where I could more easily update and correct them without having people run through many discussions and comments before they got to the "full FAQ" As Corrected. BUT, I just checked as recently as last night (App 11:00 EST, 03-31-08) and the "Unofficial BOINC WIKI" still contained the original information which was written about two *years* ago, even though I've informed them of newer versions. I am not on the list of the people who can "maintain" the Wiki, so for now all of this erroneous information is still being provided to the public! I would welcome anyone to take over in the maintenance of the SETI Enhanced Application FAQ if you want to, but for it's inclusion into the BOINC WIKI as it is is just misleading and in very serious error.[/quote 2. the SAH specific stuff : why crunch, why crunch for this project this project as opposed to some other project, why persist when you are struggling to make the software work? If you joined because you are interested in the search for ETI then you are probably going to want some regular progress reports and many of the suggestions made in this and the previous and related threads speak to this need. Some folks read the front page and never make it to the boards, others read the boards but forget to look at the front page. The call seems to be for more organized, regularly produced and prominently displayed information. If you joined out of interest in computers or volunteer computing then maybe you’re still here out of appreciation for Seti Classic’s groundbreaking role. Or SAH’s continuing role as a test bed for at least some of BOINC’s new features(I know about Alpha Boinc but doesn’t the backend server stuff get tossed here first?) What keeps you crunching for SAH? Snags [/quote] I agree. We should have some system of alerting *all* users of what we (or any other project they may be attached to.)of progress made. In the case of SETI and any other project where there is no actual "progress" (IE finding ET), at least there should be a "progress report", say a newaletter, sent to eash participant. Sorry for the length of this post, but trying to address all questions raised with my best answers. Jim Some people plan their life out and look back at the wealth they've had. Others live life day by day and look back at the wealth of experiences and enjoyment they've had. ID: 733400 · |
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Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 19 Jul 00 Posts: 3898 Credit: 1,158,042 RAC: 0
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I think we should start with a slight shift in perspective. NO one posting here is a truly representative cruncher. The vast majority of crunchers never post. I suspect the vast majority never even visit the message boards once, much less with any regularity. Agreed. This is the point. Yes I do a lot of work for projects, but, the 100 people that leave would do as much or more as I do as an individual "super-cruncher" type. And that was the person that I tried to represent. As far as the classic and no boinc, some of that was just that they were set-up and did not want to change. And BOINC was a big change and they did not see the need. I don't know if any have since come back ... I would hope so ... but, I don't recall when it was done, but I think it was Willy of BOINC STATS that did the numbers for us about the loss rates and my recollections are 50% or higher before one WU is done. More after that ... But, Snags sums it up with out all the "frills" I put on it to give it context and to suggest things we can begin to think about doing to contribute. So, if you are still hanging in there ... here are the thoughts for the day ... If you were king (or queen) and could change just one thing, what would it be ... and why ... And, would you be willing to actually do some real work to support the project? Don't try to think of what your skills are or that you don't have any that might be relevant. Just ask yourself the question ... would you be willing? If someone asked you to donate an hour a week, would you ... ID: 733402 · |
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Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 19 Jul 00 Posts: 3898 Credit: 1,158,042 RAC: 0
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Not sure if my last post came across making any sense ... re: loss rate ... i have done for AC@HOme 2,400 CS or about 80-100 tasks ... on my tasks page (and that includes some that seem to have been lost) and I have done more than 50% of the people that have joined the project. And I am running that project at something like 6% of my time on my machines.... BUt think on that number ... 50% or more people have done less work ... The same is true for some of the other totals for the projects. I run another week or so and it is likely that almost all but the projects that are closed or don't issue me work will all be above 90% ... ID: 733447 · |
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popandbob Send message Joined: 19 Mar 05 Posts: 551 Credit: 4,673,015 RAC: 0 
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Speaking of making boinc easier for the average person.. I think It needs to be re designed so that there is 1 web page to control all options and not have overrides. Make the boinc website as an account manager and have users automatically signed up for it. From there improve the help pages... Make them easy to find questions... I am working on an improved help website of my own in spare time of the kind of format that i think it should be... One of my biggest problems in boinc when I started was going to 10 different websites to change the same setting to make sure they are the same when changing another setting (thankfully there is account managers now!) ie. change connect every x days to 3 on one project.. then I would go to a different project and change the switch between aps every x min to 1440 then all of a sudden the connect every x days is back at default! ~BoB  Do you Good Search for Seti@Home? http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=888957 Or Good Shop? http://www.goodshop.com/?charityid=888957 ID: 733475 · |
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popandbob Send message Joined: 19 Mar 05 Posts: 551 Credit: 4,673,015 RAC: 0
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I'd also like to point out that even though interest is falling... RAC in the last 60 days has increased big time! (~25%) Do you Good Search for Seti@Home? http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=888957 Or Good Shop? http://www.goodshop.com/?charityid=888957 ID: 733477 · |
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KWSN Ekky Ekky Ekky Send message Joined: 25 May 99 Posts: 944 Credit: 52,956,491 RAC: 67
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I'd also like to point out that even though interest is falling... RAC in the last 60 days has increased big time! (~25%) Also, if interest is falling, how come users keep going up: http://bluenorthernsoftware.com/scarecrow/sahstats/users.html Subjective impression seems to be at variance with fact.
ID: 733480 · |
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Scarecrow Send message Joined: 15 Jul 00 Posts: 4520 Credit: 486,601 RAC: 0
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Also, if interest is falling, how come users keep going up: That particular set of charts get their data from the project stats xml file. And if I'm not mistaken that set of numbers is "number of users that have come IN the door". Those that have EXITED are not reflected in the count. A much better count can be viewed over at BoincStats. ID: 733483 · |
Sirius B   Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24879 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 
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I have just found an item on the boinc main page & actually watched the whole 20 minutes. It answers everyone's questions & thoughts. Try it, trust me, it will be worth it. Lift-Cern: Francois Grey - Volunteer Computing.Volunteer Thinking ID: 733511 · |
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