Since it is not a widely publicised topic, most smart phone users will be unaware that they too can freely contribute towards the advancement of a number of noble scientific causes to further aid humankind. This is made possible via Cluster Computing or Hive Computing software technology currently available as android apps that allows users to contribute the vast reserves of processing power available in their mobile devices during its idle times.
After installing the necessary software on your mobile device this much-needed additional processing power can then assist underfunded researchers in numerous academic disciplines by providing them with an increased number crunching capacity. This in turn would then speed up the delivery of results on their research. The software enables your device to network with other hardware devices with similar apps installed to construct a global supercomputer; scientific researchers may then harness the immense additional processing power when required to further the course of research for the benefit of all mankind.
DreamLab free on Google Play, is the direct result of a collaborative effort between the Garvan Institute of Australia’s researchers and cellular network giant Vodafone. The app is focused at supporting research done into curing a number of cancer types, and once the app is installed the user can choose from a variety of specific cancer research fields they may wish to support. Once the selections have been set the device’s processing power during idle times will be utilised to assist in finding cures. Vodafone customers are assured that all mobile data used for these purposes are free.
Folding@Home is free from Google Play, is the brainchild of a joint venture between Stanford University scientists and leading mobile device developer, Sony Mobile. The Stanford team focuses their efforts on discovering more about mechanics driving a multitude of horrific diseases. This app also makes your mobile device’s free idle time processing power available to perform numbercrunching exercises to further research in the field of protein folding, which is a process found in numerous cells throughout our bodies to aid in forming their final development shape. It also requires no additional costs to be carried by the app user since it only starts to function after your device is fully charged and it must be connected to a Wi-Fi source before it will start performing its operations in the background.