DALi World
Current Version: 0.5
Client Download size: n/a
OS: Windows, Linux, Unix
Progress: n/a
Percent% complete: Ongoing
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DALiWorld (DALi stands for Distributed Artificial Life) isn't
technically a distributed computing project since it isn't solving a problem.
It is just a fun toy: a distributed virtual aquarium.
Written in Java by DALi, Inc., it creates
a virtual saltwater aquarium in a desktop window or in your screensaver and
populates it with fish (which currently don't do much more than swim around).
When you are connected to the Internet, some of your fish will occasionally
migrate to other users' aquariums and some of their fish will migrate to yours
(you can turn this feature off if you want to). You can click your right
mouse button on each fish to see its passport, which shows who created it and
where it has been.
This project is still in development and requires you to install Java and
Java3D libraries. The Windows software downloads everything you need, but
for the Linux and Solaris users I recommend this project only for users
experienced in downloading and installing Java packages. Version 0.5 is
available as a July 30, 2001.
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Current Version: Unknown
Client Download size: Unknown
OS: Windows, Linux, Unix
Progress: Not Announced
Percent% Complete: Ongoing
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Genetic TSP uses a Java application that runs through your web browser and uses genetic
algorithms to solve a Traveling Salesman Problem (in a TSP, a salesman must find the shortest
route in which he/she can visit each a set of cities once and return to his/her starting city).
This project is attempting to solve a problem of 15,122 cities of Germany
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The Distributed Chess Project
Current Version: 2.0
Client Download size: 1.8 MB+
OS: Windows
Progress: 4 years computing time
Percent% complete: Ongoing
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Help create better chess-playing artificial neural networks in The Distributed Chess Project.
The project software "implements a genetic algorithm to train multi-layer-perceptron neural
networks on sets of chess positions with known best continuations (e.g. endgame studies, mate
in n moves, white to move and win, etc.)."
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The Electric Sheep Project
Current Version: 2.3b
Client Download size: 350 KB
OS: Windows, FreeBSD, MAC, Linux
Progress: Ongoing
Percent% complete: Ongoing
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The electric sheep project uses an xscreensaver module to display an animated fractal flame
while rendering frames for the next animation. It is designed for users with with high-bandwidth,
always-on Internet connections. It doesn't seem to work through firewalls.
From the project website:
"When the screen-saver is activated, the screen goes black and an animated 'sheep' appears.
Behind the scenes, the screen-saver contacts a server and joins the parallel computation of new
sheep. Every fifteen minutes 24/7 a new sheep is produced and distributed to all clients for
display. Each sheep is an animated fractal flame."
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Current Version: 1.15
Client Download size: 500 KB+
OS: Windows
Progress: Ongoing
Percent% complete: Unknown
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MoneyBee is a screen saver that uses neural networks to analyze stock market charts and
indices to predict future trends of the indices. The client trains its
neural network with recent market data in an attempt to make good, useful
predictions. Participation in the project is free, and all users who
participate get access to the predictions in the form of charts with technical
analyses and user guidance.
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ChessBrain
Current Version: 1.3
Client Download size: n/a
OS: Windows, Linux, MAC
Progress: Waiting for Stage 2
Percent% Complete: Unknown
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From the project website:
What if we could link computers throughout the Internet to form a massive chess computer?
A global Chess Brain... How strong could such a program become?
The ChessBrain project is dedicated to creating the worlds largest chess computer by
utilizing the combined processing power of interconnected machines throughout the Internet.
When ChessBrain goes live, it will play a single game against human and computer opponents.
ChessBrain will play online (at FreeChess.org) and in chess competitions around the world.
We're serious about achieving our goal. ChessBrain runs on some of the fastest microcomputers
in existence, and communicates via T1 and OC-3 networks, which sit on nation-wide network
backbones. Trust us - this isn't your dad's chess computer.
ChessBrain is completely free - as well as free from commercial interest, and made possible
by the generous contributions of our supporters. Our members range from university students to
high ranking technology executives from around the world.
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Current Version: Variable
Client Download size: variable
OS: Windows
Progress: Project 16
Percent% complete: Ongoing
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Render images for computer-animated movies in Internet Movie Project. The project is an
open-source collaboration of volunteers and is just for fun. It is still in the development
phase, but you can volunteer to be a "render-farmer," to render images for test animation
sequences. Anyone who can run the free POV-Ray ray-tracing program can join this project,
although the supporting scripts and software needed for the project only work on the Windows
platform for now.
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