Free ISP Juno Online Services wants its users to contribute their idle clock cycles to a distributed “supercomputer,” which the struggling service would rent to research organizations and corporations that need massive computation power.
The plan would require users to install client software and leave their PCs on 24 hours a day. The client would start processing data when the PCs screen saver kicks in, and upload its results when the user connects to the Internet.
Currently, the Juno Virtual Supercomputer Network consists of a few volunteers. But CEO Charles Ardai says that participation may be required.
So far, however, there are no takers. Maybe researchers are leery of outsourcing critical apps to freeloaders.