Myriad computers around the world join to solve problems piece by piece

Dan Duncan works all day and helps fight AIDS at night -- or at least his computer does.

That's when special software on his computer allows it to work with hundreds of thousands of other machines around the world to solve pieces of major problems, such as finding better treatments for muscular dystrophy.

Duncan, a senior vice president of United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, is part of the World Community Grid. The grid was launched by IBM in November 2004 to accelerate humanitarian research, said Robin Willner, IBM's vice president of global community initiatives.

This type of technology is known as a distributed grid. When a computer with the grid software goes idle, it will request data on a project from the World Community Grid's server. The computer works out small problems, sends the results back to the server and then gets a new piece of information to analyze.

The grid is a result of collaboration between IBM and more than 300 partners worldwide, including corporations, universities and nonprofit groups.

An advisory board of experts from around the world who specialize in health sciences, technology and philanthropy is responsible for selecting the projects that grid users will aid. They review proposals for projects based on the type of science that's being done and determine whether the grid will help accelerate the research, Willner said.

There are five projects under way, ranging from research about the treatment of muscular dystrophy and cancer to finding a new drug to help HIV patients avoid the onset of AIDS. All of the results will remain in the public domain so they can be used by all researchers.

Willner said that while there are other distributed grids being used, the World Community Grid is the only one that tackles multiple research projects at the same time. People who download the software can choose whether they want their computer time used on a specific project or on whatever task the grid sends.

Duncan downloaded the software four or five months ago and said he lets his computer run whatever information the server sends. He's one of about 10 people in the office who have downloaded the software.

The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona is one of the partners in the World Community Grid and has made the software available to all of the employees, but Duncan said it is a personal choice to participate.

"What we can do with this terrific software and technology is that even if you stop using your computer for 50 seconds or 30 seconds, we can use that. We have the technology that you can step away, come back and be uninterrupted," Willner said.

There are more than 500,000 devices that currently contribute to the World Community Grid, with users from more than 200 countries. Every week, the computers that are part of the grid complete 1,000 years of run time, which is the amount of time it would take one computer to finish the same work.

Since the World Community Grid began, it has generated almost 75,000 computer run years. The combined power of the computers makes it one of the five largest super computers in the world, Willner said.

This technology allowed for the completion of the first phase of the Human Proteome Folding Project in July 2006. That phase was designed to predict the shape of many human proteins, which give scientists the clues they need to understand how individual proteins work in the body. The information completed in phase one can help scientists develop new cures for a variety of diseases, according to the World Community Grid's Web site.

"The more people join, the faster we grow, the more projects we can support," Willner said.

People who download the software also can join teams. In Tucson, there are teams for the University of Arizona, IBM Tucson and a group that simply goes by the name Tucson Arizona. Teams are ranked in several categories, including the number of current members and the total run time they contribute. There is no prize for first place, but the rankings give users an idea how much they are contributing and the help they're providing.

Grid contributors also can personalize their experiences by choosing when the software runs. In addition to running when the computer is idle, the software can run in the background if the computer's power is not being fully used.

Duncan said he runs the software whenever his computer is idle, but that he leaves his computer on all of the time.

"I'm helping to make a difference almost 24/7," he said.

He also takes advantage of another option the software offers: a screen saver. Users can set up a screen saver to remind them of what their computers are doing. For example, if they're working on a problem for the FightAIDS@Home project and are running an algorithm to see what chemicals will stop the spread of AIDS, the screen saver could show a revolving 3-D graphic of the work.

"You're actually looking at a visualization of the research that's being done on your computer," Willner said, adding that people might not even notice the work that's being done without the screen savers.

Willner describes this as "dumb" software because it cannot read hard drives or receive messages from anyone. The only task it can complete is its assignment, and IBM does a lot to limit the possibility of a problem, she said.

"IBM encourages every IBM user to join," Willner said. "You know we've checked it out before we do that."