Profile: River Song

Thoughts about SETI and SETI@home
Why do you run SETI@home?
I run it because I feel I can make a contribution, however small, to the scientific community.
My PC runs 24/7 and is used to control a "security robot" on an island in a 3D world far out in the metaverse. This work only requires a small percentage of my CPU processing power; why not use a bit more of it to help SETI?

What are your views about the project?
I think it is a remarkable endeavor and only wish others, with "CPU time on their hands," would join in.

Any suggestions?
YES!
I feel far too little information is given out, "upfront and in plain view," to new members about the risk of possible damage to their PC's by running SETI too "enthusiastically."

I researched this prior to enabling SETI@Home on my PC. I looked high and low for any warnings I could find. I found a few relating to CPU temperature rise by those choosing too HIGH a CPU "workload." These were a few scattered in the "Help" area. One in particular mentioned high temperature on a laptop, and the persons fear about it. He/she was running SETI at 100% load. Based on THAT I looked into monitoring CPU temp rise, my CPU's max temp, and the availability of free temp monitors. I chose to use the one from http://www.cputhermometer.com/ I have also set my "CPU load" at 25% for safety.
Those with no technical knowledge need to be protected from themselves. IMHO, it is the responsibility of those who "know" to explain these things to newbies. TELL them, UP FRONT, of any possible risk, even if it's low, of "overdoing" their enthusiasm to participate in SETI "number crunching," huh?

One last item, while I am on my "rant" at the podium. :) Hold back on your cheers, plz?

All of the User "Preference" options are, again IMHO, only vaguely explained. They are minimal as opposed to being verbose. Minimal is fine for scientists but verbose is preferred for "the masses," i.e., "the folk." Please revise the preference choices to enable newbies to make intelligent choices, huh? :) No offense intended. :)
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