#14: BOINC

BOINC stands for Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing, and is a program which allows your computer to help science. BOINC is a program which allows you to connect to an assortment of different science related projects, and help use your computer's spare processing power to crunch problems called WUs (Work Units).

There are many different science projects to choose from, and you can choose which ones you want to help with your computer. First we will have to install BOINC though.

This time, I will show you how to install/remove programs a different way from usual, perhaps even easier than the others. Click Accessories -> Add/Remove...

In the new window which opened, type BOINC into the search, and install the program. BOINC should now be installed under Applications -> System Tools -> BOINC Manager.

Boincstats is a website which helps make it a lot easier to add/join/remove projects from BOINC, you can register for an account here (Link). After signing up for an account and activating by checking your email, open up BOINC and follow these instructions (Link). After doing that, your BOINC will automatically contact BOINCStats to update and synchronise your account.

Now since you have connected BOINC to BOINCStats, you may log into the BOINCStats website with your username and password. After logging in, on the left hand side you should see "Sign-up for projects," click on that. Look through the project descriptions to see if anything catches your eye, and press the Create Account button for each one you want to join.

I highly recommend Rosetta@Home (help fold proteins to cure diseases), AQUA@Home (working on building a quantum computer, and these WUs are testing quantum algortihms), and MilkyWay@Home (making a highly accurate model of the MilkyWay).

After joining whichever projects you want to join, press the Start button at the bottom of the screen. Now press "Project resources" on the side, press the "Attach All Hosts Now" buttons for all the projects you want to connect to, and press Update. You may also want to check off any projects you want to attach to by default (if you connect more of your computers to BOINCStats, your computers will automatically join these projects).

Now, open up BOINC, and press Tools -> Synchronize with BOINCStats BAM!. This will update your BOINC, and attach to the science projects you selected. You will begin downloading WUs, and helping science with your spare processing power.

For those who are interested in seeing my stats, click here.