Talk:World Community Grid/Archive 1

Help Conquer Cancer

The article should be updated to include information about "Help Conquer Cancer", the most recent project added to World Community Grid. The project information page: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/projects_showcase/hcc1/viewHcc1Main.do
The announcement: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/forums/wcg/viewthread?thread=16924
I suppose this is one of the "upcoming cancer projects" mentioned in the article.

--79.182.11.3 17:04, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

Business Plan

As IBM is a publicly traded company one assumes that there is a business plan for IBM associated with this project. It might be interesting to have that included with the article. It just happens to be the reason that I checked out the article, as one of my colleagues asked me for advice as to whether they should join the community. My response was, as it still is, "I'd like to understand the business plan first." I understand that it's possible that no one knows what that is... but the inclusion of this kind of information makes the article look like less of an 'advertisement' to the uninitiated. --137.149.66.146 12:38, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

FA@H

The article doesn't make it clear that Fight AIDS at Home is a new project to WCG, but not a new project in itself. It ran on its own grid for years before joining WCG. --68.146.186.92 00:12, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

Added reference to its previous existence. — Bitt 19:04, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

History

The History section includes the following paragraph:

On November 16, 2005 World Community Grid launched FightAids@Home. The previous HPF project and FA@H can also now both be a BOINC-based project (currently Linux and Windows only).—BOINC Website.

What is this supposed to mean? I can't figure out how to parse the second sentence. Pat Berry 17:33, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

Slashdot vs. Easynews

Why is Slashdot mentioned whereas team Easynews is not. Easynews is currently providing the most significant portion of daily runtime, providing ~4 times the runtime of the second place team. Slashdot is around 4th place these days.

Of course, Easynews provides an incentive to its members to run WorldCommunityGrid.

I think they both shouldn't be mentioned as it's very irrelevant. --Vincent 14:09, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Removed "Wikipedia team"

I removed:

*[http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/team/viewTeamInfo.do?teamId=45B1GN1RGN1 Wikipedia team for World Community Grid]

Because this is not official whatsoever. --Vincent 14:10, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Userbox

Is there a world community grid userbox--Ccson 15:00, 9 December 2006 (UTC)

Results in the public domain

"...all results will be in the public domain and made public to the global research community." [1] As far as I see, this info is missing from the article. I think it's fairly relevant however. Not sure where to insert it though... --82.56.162.116 15:58, 21 January 2007 (UTC)

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THIS! I contribute to WCG but this is my big concern: that I am helping some university and corporation discover and patent drugs that won't be freely shared with those who need it most. YES THIS SHOULD BE LISTED -- AS PART OF THE MAIN SELL OF WCG --[[Dcsutherland 10:46, 14 February 2007 (UTC)]]

I added links to published FAAH and HPF1 papers. I think there should be a separate, prominent "Published Results" section. Thoughts? Arcane63 21:28, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

Well, discussions of the details of the FAAH and HPF1 papers would probably be better suited for the articles FightAIDS@Home and Human Proteome Folding Project. This article is more about the organization, so the results should definitely be mentioned, but I don't think we should devote a section to talking about the details of the papers. —Remember the dot ^(talk) 23:24, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

Is it proprietary?

The article doesn't say whether World Community Grid is proprietary or whether it is free. Stuart Morrow 21:15, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

I assume that you mean accepting their EULA. Parts of WCG that don't require this may be free themselves (such as just the results, which they say are in public domain), but that license is clearly not a free software license. Free software can't restrict use at all, as mentioned in e.g. the DFSG FAQ: "Q: Can I say 'Users of this software must' ... ?", "Stop right there. Free software can't have any restrictions on use." The EULA requires you to e.g. "FOLLOW ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE POLICIES AND RULES OF WORLD COMMUNITY GRID; THOSE RULES WILL BE UPDATED ON WORLD COMMUNITY GRID SITE FROM TIME TO TIME", which is unlikely to fit anyone's definition of free software, not just Debian's. -- Coffee2theorems 22:49, 3 August 2007 (UTC)

I think that the relevant item here is what happens to the research results after they have been computed. This is outlined in the research agreement that the research organizations enter into with World Community Grid when they submit their proposal. You can review this on this page: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/projects_showcase/viewSubmitAProposal.do

On the bottom of page 4 it says:

10. Following the conclusion of the project, the research organization will make results produced by World Community Grid freely available to other research organizations within six months. The research organization also will provide results in a lay version for the World Community Grid community of volunteers and interested visitors to the web site. 19:42, 14 August, 2007 (UTC)

"Politically Correct" Participation Req'd -?

I am concerned about WCG's speech-squelching license agreement. I am contributing my cycles and all I ask in return is to be able to identify my cause and gather others around it while doing so. Unfortunately a lot of people don't like who I am or what I do. While others really do. So if you in a controversial group the official agreement is that you won't disagree or rather your name or link won't be "objectionable in any way." Here's the paragraph from what everyone agrees to in order to join up:

[http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/endUser.jsp "YOU WILL NOT USE ANY TEAM OR INDIVIDUAL NAME OR ID OR CONTENT OR HYPERLINK TO ANOTHER SITE IN CONNECTION WITH WORLD COMMUNITY GRID THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED OFFENSIVE OR OBJECTIONABLE IN ANY WAY. WE WILL HAVE THE SOLE DISCRETION TO DECIDE WHETHER A NAME, ID, CONTENT OR HYPERLINK TO ANOTHER SITE IS OFFENSIVE OR OBJECTIONABLE IN ANY WAY."

I link to abortionNO.org - and that's the name of my team. Should I expect to get canned because they find it objectionable? I find the whole objectionable also, that's why I am compelled to do something about it. If everyone in society is going to force happy-happy-feel-good in spite of real conflict we are going to make any progress. Is there a place I can discuss this?

They are at liberty to allow or disallow anything they wish from their own website. If I made a team called "Purify humanity: kill a Jew", I wholly suspect it will be quickly undone. Why? IBM and their partners do not want to become an advertising tool for causes they disagree with. WCG (and related projects) are not an opportunity to advertise one's cause, they're an opportunity to donate to a charity. The "teams" are purely meant to be a way for individuals to measure their progress against their friends, rivals or acquaintances. It is not a chance to advertise your personal causes. 82.69.37.32 22:20, 21 July 2007 (UTC)

A smallpox cure?

I guess someone thinks we might need a defense against a future bioweapon. But they'd have to keep the formula secret, otherwise the bioweapon developers would just develop a strain immune to the cure.

Other problem, of course, is how the heck do you test a cure for a disease that only infects humans and that was eradicated decades ago?

Fair use rationale for Image:World Community Grid.PNG

Image:World Community Grid.PNG is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 11:43, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

Userbox created

I've created a userbox for Wikipedians on the World Community Grid, in case anyone is interested: User:Remember the dot/Userboxes/World Community Grid. —Remember the dot ^(talk) 02:48, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

GA Fail

GA review (see here for criteria)

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose): b (MoS):

2. It is factually accurate and verifiable.

   a (references): b (citations to reliable sources): c (OR):

3. It is broad in its coverage.

   a (major aspects): b (focused):

4. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   Fair representation without bias:

5. It is stable.

   No edit wars etc.:

6. It is illustrated by images, where possible and appropriate.

   a (images are tagged and non-free images have fair use rationales): b (appropriate use with suitable captions):

7. Overall:

   Pass/Fail:

Comments:

1. World Community Grid.PNG — The non-fair use rationale is incomplete; it needs to specify the article(s) in which the logo is going to be used. The same goes for BOINC in system tray.png and WCG_on_BOINC.png.
2. The lead needs to be expanded per WP:LEAD. Specifically, it needs to summarize all of the major points in the article.
3. The article needs to state the obvious, especially since there are so many technical terms that the layman reader might be unfamiliar with. Either technical terms should be explained, in no more than a sentence, upon their first use, or a section under "History" should be devoted to giving a layman's definition of some of the essential terms.
4. The "History" section should be presented first, in order to give the reader a background on the topic before it is explained in depth.
5. All one or two sentence paragraphs should either be expanded or merged with the surrounding paragraphs as they cannot stand alone.
6. The "Outreach" section needs either expansion or to be merged as a subsection of another section.
7. The citation at the end of the first "paragraph" of "Outreach" needs to be properly referenced using the citation templates that are used in the rest of the article.
8. The article is not critical at all towards the project (other than one section on potential problems). If there is any criticism on the project from reliable sources, it should be added. If not, however, then there's nothing that you can do, but the article does begin to creep into the realm of advertisement (just a little).
9. The entire "Projects" section is very messy and reads poorly for an encyclopedic article. Those projects with their own Wikipedia pages are fine, but it's the others that I worry about. For example, you have an entire section under the heading "AfricanClimate@Home" that consists entirely of "This project will be "much more refined than the BBC Global climate study,"" which is completely inadequate for its own paragraph, never mind Level 3 section. Also, the fact that one of the articles was deleted for the reason of "Blatant advertisement" doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. Overall, the entire section needs an serious rewrite or expansion. If the project doesn't have a Wikipedia article, then it can't stand under its own Level 3 heading unless at least five substantial sentences can be created out of it (that's a general, not an exact guideline). I would recommend converting a substantial amount of this section into prose format or significantly expanding the sections on each project because, as they exist right now, many cannot remain as their own sections.

Also, and this is not mandatory for a GA pass, but the citation templates should be employed horizontally, rather than vertically, to make it easier for other editors to work on the article. Usually when a review encounter minor problems, it is put on hold for a period of time to allow for changes to be made. In this case, however, I feel a hold is inappropriate for two reasons. First, "Help Cure Muscular Dystrophy Phase 2" is a future event and the article is likely to become unstable once the project is launched, as more information becomes available. If there were already a decent section on it, it likely wouldn't be a problem, but that one sentence is not sufficient as it stands. Secondly, I think that this article would benefit from some careful construction and reflection on the prose that would be necessary to make the "Projects" section acceptable by GA standards. A re-write and then proof reading by yourself and by others after taking a break from the article would be highly beneficial. For all of these reasons, I am failing the article. If you feel that this review is in error, please feel free to take it to good article reassessment. Thank you for your work thus far. Cheers, CP 02:01, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

All the images in this article had their rationales written before the introduction of the Article parameter. Instead, the article was stated in the "Purpose" section.

When the citation templates are employed horizontally it turns the paragraphs into garbled messes. Employing them vertically spaces things out more and helps the reader distinguish between prose and citation.

Which technical terms, exactly, had insufficient explanation of their meaning? I believe that all technical terms used in this article are either wikilinked or are given alongside an explanation.

The History section has been moved as requested.

The link at the end of the first sentence in the "Outreach" section is left as a link instead of a citation intentionally. Since the statistics are updated every day, the link provides the user with a means to quickly get the latest statistics.

I could find no notable criticism of World Community Grid. If you find some then by all means add it.

That covers 5 out of 9 of your numbered complaints. Perhaps someone else will come along to help with the prose, or perhaps you'd like to help with it yourself. —Remember the dot ^(talk) 04:06, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

• "I feel a hold is inappropriate for two reasons. First, "Help Cure Muscular Dystrophy Phase 2" is a future event and the article is likely to become unstable once the project is launched" - As an active organisation, World Community Grid always have new projects launching or about to launch. Surely this doesn't disqualify the article? But the article itself is not good. I see that I am quoted as a primary source. I'm really not! Didactylos (talk) 08:38, 25 November 2008 (UTC)

FightAIDS@Home and Human Proteome Folding 2, on UD clinet and BOINC client software

Four type of WCG client software are available, that are BOINC for Windows (5.10.30) for (Vista, XP, Me, 2000, 98) or United Devices for Windows (Vista, XP, Me, 2000, 98), Linux (x86)and Apple-Mac (PowerPC, x86) which you can see if you go to download site of client software. And, If you are member of WCG with United devices client software. your selection is one of or all five projects. However, it seems only two, "FightAIDS@Home" and "Human Proteome Folding 2" are actually work on United Devices client software and others to be functioning on BOINC client software. The following text in a frame is copy of from my member screen "device profile". As far as talking on WCG, two "FightAIDS@Home" and "Human Proteome Folding 2" projects are workable on UD client. This is my understanding. I am installing both United Devices and BIONIC client on my single PC as testing with my curiosity and it seems both is working.

□ Participate in All Projects
   □　AfricanClimate@Home  (Available on BOINC only) 
   　　• Please review the system requirements before opting to participate in this project 
   □ Discovering Dengue Drugs - Together  (Available on BOINC only) 
   □ FightAIDS@Home  
   □ Help Conquer Cancer  (Available on BOINC only) 
   □ Human Proteome Folding 2  
Please note: Some projects may occasionally have periods where no work 
is available. If you choose to receive work for only one project, 
the project may, at times, not have work units available for download.
For this reason, we recommend that you select more than one project.

--Namazu-tron (talk) 08:43, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

• This is no longer accurate. The UD agent was discontinued months ago. Didactylos (talk) 08:27, 25 November 2008 (UTC)

BOINC client hits CPU usage 100% momentarily

Hi, Omjeremy.
Are you sure for deletion. I am using latest BOINC client software Version 5.10.30 ( as of Jan. 3, 2008) and set Advanced- Preference - Processor usage- Other options - Use at most xx.xx %. set to 60% or any lower value in average, CPU still have peak approx. or almost 100% in very short instant or momentarily, of course in average to be set value, hopefully. I believe My picture complements/citing article description of If the BOINC client's CPU usage is set to 60%, however, it will work at 100% for 3 seconds..... --Namazu-tron (talk) 16:05, 3 January 2008 (UTC)

Unlerss delete citation is given, it will be reverted in 7-10 days.--Namazu-tron (talk) 08:36, 6 January 2008 (UTC)

I have reverted to have CPU 0-100% swinging Picture, due to User:BJbot came and talked to me. I can't wait for long.--Namazu-tron (talk) 01:31, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

I'm not sure that this image is particularly helpful, as someone who is new to BOINC/WCG would find it very confusing. I think this image would be better suited for a page on how BOINC manages the CPU according to user preferences, if there is such a page... If not, it would probably be a good one to start. While WCG's default preference may be different than other BOINC projects, the behavior displayed in the image would be the same of all BOINC projects if they were set to the same preference, either through the projects themselves or through the client software. --Noderaser (talk) 02:02, 14 July 2009 (UTC)

Nutritious Rice for the World

I added info regarding the Nutritious Rice for the World project, and removed the expansion tag that was in place. I used info solely from the WCG website. Feel free to post criticism... PluniAlmoni (talk) 17:22, 26 July 2008 (UTC)

• I submitted a separate article for this project. PluniAlmoni (talk) 19:24, 26 July 2008 (UTC)

WCG screensaver images

Please join to discussion of copyright issue on WCG screensaver image file. Commons:Deletion requests/World Community Grid screenshots. Also refer to [2] and [3]--Namazu-tron (talk) 14:04, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

GO Fight Against Malaria

Anyone do a write-up about it, it's a new project in the WCG.

http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/research/gfam/overview.do — Preceding unsigned comment added by 112.203.35.169 (talk) 16:15, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

done, some time ago. Gromobir (talk) 16:51, 13 February 2013 (UTC)

A few problems

Hi, I just read over this article and I thought I'd mention that I feel that portions of it are a bit like a how-to. Specifically, the "How it works" section should be renamed, or its content merged. The subsection "Potential problems" is really non-neutral, saying things like "Unlike other BOINC projects, World Community Grid set the BOINC defaults conservatively, making the chances of computer damage extremely small." which is also not sourced. The information following this phase to the end of the section are unnecessary details and should be removed or summarized if they are notable. I would recommend that someone read Wikipedia:Good article criteria and try really hard to aim for those guidelines. This article has a really good chance of developing into a quality, encyclopedic article, it just needs some cleanup work and maybe some expansion. Good luck, Jessemv (talk) 05:13, 1 February 2012 (UTC)

Help Fight Childhood Cancer

As of March 2013 The "Help Fight Childhood Cancer" Project has been Intermittent! this is also noted on the project page after you login to the WCG website. --Fox2k11 (talk) 05:26, 11 March 2013 (UTC)