In trying to increase the output of the WCG I see two fundamental -- and indeed related -- problems. The first problem is simply one of awareness. The vast majority of people, I suspect, have no idea that distributed computing exists, and that they can battle disease via their computers. The second problem, which is really the more interesting of the two, is that most people find it difficult to understand how the grid works, which leads to an apprehension toward installing/pursuing it. I have observed this in my efforts to expand the membership of my WCG team: almost everyone that I've recruited was initially anxious about having a "program" running on their computer. The more technical details that I provided -- on proteins, cpu cycles, work units, multi-cores...etc. -- the more overwhelmed and skeptical they became. So while we can increase awareness through advertising and mass emailing friends, it seems that actually getting people to be self-motivated to install the program entails imparting some understanding of it. Some of us, including myself, tend to take it for granted that people ought to be excited by the very idea of the WCG, but a failure to understand the grid (as opposed to a general aversion to helping people) is often responsible for preventing this excitement from occurring. The way I approach this problem is to determine how comfortable my "target" is with technology/science...etc. If they are comp-science majors, or have always been a "geek" like me then I jump right into the details. But, for the majority of people, I have found that a more manipulative approach is better for getting the results we want (more users). Therefore, for people like "grandma" who aren't tech-oriented, I would propose framing the WCG like this: "Hey, I found this really cool screen saver that helps cure cancer." Don't tell them about points, proteins, or about anything that might activate their general aversion to tech/science. Just call it a screen saver, and then answer any questions they might have after that. This will save you considerable effort and frustration, and will help you grow the WCG. Every once and a while, you will get lucky, and you will attempt to recruit someone who has a lot of questions for you. These are the types of people that will not only install the program on every computer they can get their hands on, but they will help "spread" the idea just like you. Just remember that these are comparatively rare individuals, and not everyone will become keen to the concept.

Thus, to sum up, try varying your approach to recruitment depending on who you are trying to recruit. Mass mailings tend to be ineffective because it's difficult to send the right message in a generic email. Instead, try face to face explanations, and don't be afraid to exaggerate the ease and simplicity of this "cool new screensaver you found." We musn't let potential contributers slip away because we insist on explaining the grid to them in the hopes that they will be passionate about it if they "would only understand." If we can't change Luddites, then we might as well use them, so don't overwhelm them with technicalities!

Funny this should come up today. I was just showing this http://www.tryscience.org/grid/home.html to the UserFriendly.Org audience. It's a Flash introduction to grid computing, and uses a couple of games to illustrate how it works (in very simple terms).

The link has been on the WCG homepage ever since the grid was launched, but many people seem to overlook it. It's aimed at children, but it makes a good entry-level introduction for any age group.

As for the big organisations - we really don't get to see much of the effort that WCG puts in there. WCG will negotiate in private, and we only see the results (which are rather disappointing, but that's a different story). Also, WCG advertise on the websites and in the periodicals that CEOs and CTOs tend to read. Targeted advertising is good; it saves money, but it may give the average member the idea that WCG don't advertise at all.

Front Page WCG new partners: Eni Group (Viva Italia) 72,258 employees end of 2005. A slightly different scale of people reached in one fell swoop.

http://www.fipl.it/docs/progetti/ENI_Group.pdf

Someone may remember the student that worked at WCG who's doing 'viral marketing' study and developing the ways it can be applied to spreading the word on WCG through particular avenues of WCG's choice. Famously more roads lead to Rome!

Last week WCG did a new 7 day record of 1,458 CPU years, but in POINTS WCG nearly tripled the performance, just to express the quality of crunching that's done today thru BOINC instead of using the ageing UD agent.... BOINC now well settled above the 80% mark.

Seasons greetings and lets crunch forward.

I found out about WCG in the Sunday paper's USA Today or (Weekend?) under the tiny Tech section. There was a little blurb about "Would you like to help cure disease?" That was almost 3 yrs. ago...I literally jumped from my seat and ran to the computer and downloaded the UD agent.

I have told many people about this and I will keep doing it. Someday it will light a fire!!!

Diana

Does the World Community Grid have a "Press Kit" ?