SETI Wants Your Computer
Kirt's Cogitations™ #113

RF Cafe University "Factoids," "Kirt's Cogitations," and "Tech Topics Smorgasbord" are all manifestations of my ranting on various subjects relevant (usually) to the overall RF Cafe theme. All may be accessed on these pages:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37

< Previous Next >

SETI Wants Your Computer

For many years, SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) has convinced tens of thousands of computer owners - both personal and corporate - to install and run a program that permits the main SETI computer to execute its alien-searching code on collected deep space radio data during what would normally be downtime. Downtime could be anything from the wee hours of the night to time in-between tasks during daily use. What has resulted is the most massively parallel processed and distributed calculation computer in the world. That's all fine for the Trekies, star gazers, and conspiracy adherents of the world, but what about for the evil capitalists that actually fund the lion's share of the research performed by these groups? Gateway Computers can help. The company has completed the networking of the 8000 or so computers on display in their Gateway Country Store chain. Called "Gateway Processing On Command," you or anyone else can purchase processing time for your biggest clock cycle hogging projects. Statistical analysis on stock market trends, drug company research and large database searches are just a few of the possibilities. Sorry, but it won't make Doom run any faster on your PC.

Johanson Technology Prototyping Kit - RF Cafe

RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...