During the last 5 years there has been significant advances in the ability of computers to link up with each other and work on common tasks. The term "parallel processing" is sometimes applied to this process. The link up of the computers is typically a trivial task, especially when using the Linux operating system. The difficult part is trying to break a problem apart into tasks that each processor can work on independently. This concept of linking small computers together has been carried to the next level by a company called United Devices. They have put together a "grid" of computers, linked by the internet. Currently they have over 2 million computers signed up as members of their grid (network). These computers run small parts of a problem in the background of the computer. Whenever the computer is idle or not working very hard, this program runs in the background, making use of the unused capacity of the computer. If the user needs more of the computer's resources for a particular task, the grid program reduces its processing so as to free up more resources for the users task. When a particular computer finishes it assigned task, it automatically connects through the internet with the master computer. Its results are uploaded and the next task is downloaded. All of this happens in the background and the user wouldn't even be aware that it is happening. When the computer is turned off the background process is also turned off. The background process can be setup to automatically turn itself back on when the computer is turned on or it can be setup to allow the user to turn it on or off. The program would appear to be quite "solid" and cause no problems with the users computer as evidenced by the large number running without problems of any kind. This grid has worked on some interesting projects. The Dept. of Chemistry, University of Oxford, England, has had projects relating to screening of molecular structures for anti-virus activity. The most recent one directed toward the smallpox virus. Another was directed toward anthrax. There is currently a project directed toward screening agents for anti-cancer activity. If you are interested in more information about this really interesting project you can find out more about it at www.grid.org. It's well worth your time even if you decide that you aren't interested in contributing your unused computer power.