Scientific research requires extensive computing power. Many researchers are turning to distributed, even global, processing power to fulfill this need. Many science and computation enthusiasts are turning to this model as well. Millions of personal computing devices sit idle much of the time. The idea is to harness this potential power, both to allow for a wider base of contributors to science and to provide such computing power on demand. Think of it as a utility like water or electricity, whereby a resource is provided (sold), and consumed (bought), as a traded commodity.

Distributed Compute Labs is a Canadian educational nonprofit organization aimed at “Accelerating Science, Innovation, and Discovery”. They have developed the Distributed Compute Protocol (DCP) that provides computing services via web browser. Previous client-server distributed compute systems required a separate ‘crunching’ app to be installed on the client (user’s) computer. DCP is a much simpler to use mechanism, which means less time installing and configuring software, more time doing science. The currency that facilitates this ‘computation trade’ is composed of computing credits, stored in a secure digital wallet. Credits are earned (deposited in the wallet) for contributed compute power. Credits can be spent (withdrawn from the wallet) to purchase compute power.

This enables virtually any PC*, anywhere in the world, to contribute to the vast distributed computer via internet. Almost every personal computing device in the world has a web browser installed (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc). These computers can be tied into the ‘grid computer’ at the discretion and convenience of the computer’s user. There are some very big and powerful computers currently tied-in to the distributed computer.