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Internet Sharing Put to Good Use

David Baker, a biochemist at the Washington University, has though up a positive and constructing online sharing initiative. Baker has realized that instead of file-sharing illegal content on the net, people can harness their computer time for a higher goal. Baker, who did not find enough money to rent computer time on supercomputers for his research, understood that there are millions of computer around the world that can be used in helping research.

Backer and his team offer people a downloadable program that uses their computer for calculations required for their research. Baker believes that a cure for Cancer or AIDS can be found by harnessing the potential of millions of computer around the world throughout the Internet. "We`re getting these volunteer virtual communities popping up that are doing wonderful things," Baker said. "People like to get together for good causes."

One the software is installed on the computer, the Backer project sends work over the Internet, and when the computer is idle, the software starts working. It uses the computer`s CPU to work on the designated test sent by the project, and that way each and every computer is working on a small piece of the puzzle. Already more than 60,000 people are donating their computer time for the effort.