: For those unfamiliar to Distributed Computing, the best analogy for what it does is this...

Imagine you had a LOT of data to process, but you knew that your computer didn't have the power to handle the job. So you found a program that allows you to break up the data into smaller pieces. You could then, using the same program, send those smaller pieces of data to your brother/sister's computer to have their computer help you out. You could also send a few pieces to your neighbor and have them process some of the data. Once their computers return the result of their data processing back to you, your computer only has to verify that the data has been properly processed.

In effect, you have used your friends' computers to make one BIG computer.

That, in essence, is what Distributed Computing is.

The Calm CHaos team runs a program called BOINC < Berkely Open Infrastructure For Network Computing >. We allow our home computers to be used by scientific projects from around the world in an effort to process data for their informational needs.

BOINC, as a system, has a project that suits just about everyone. Anything from exploring our own galaxy, to helping find cures for diseases from AIDS to Diabetes.

We hope that you enjoy your look around here at Calm Chaos and, if after looking around, you decide to be a member of our site or the team, we would be more than happy to welcome you to the Calm Chaos family.