Loosely coupled distributed work.
WHAT GRID COMPUTING IS
Sharing computing resources across administrative boundaries, frequently between institutions.
WHAT IT PROVIDED
Access to capacity beyond any one organisation Sharing of scientific instruments and data
WHERE IT REMAINS
Large scientific collaborations, particularly in physics.
WHAT VOLUNTEER COMPUTING IS
Using idle capacity on the public's computers.
WHAT IT SUITS
Problems dividing into many independent pieces, with no communication between them.
WHAT THAT IS CALLED
Embarrassingly parallel.
WHAT IT HAS BEEN USED FOR
Protein folding Astronomical data analysis Disease research
WHAT IT DOES NOT SUIT
Anything requiring communication between workers Anything with strict deadlines Anything with confidential data
WHY THAT LAST POINT
The work runs on machines you do not control.
WHAT VERIFICATION REQUIRES
Sending work to several volunteers and comparing results.
WHY
Results may be wrong through error or deliberate falsification.
WHAT THE MODERN EQUIVALENT IS
Cloud spot capacity, offering cheap interruptible resources.
WHAT THAT SUITS
The same class of problem, with more control.
