Ok, why can't they?. Well, shouldn't smartphones at least theoretically be able to?. I mean, they have a CPU, and they have RAM. Or, is there a difference in the architecture?.

B

Hummm,
I can't provide much more details, but read a paper months ago in a scientific literature, that there is a smart group of dedicated scientists trying some experiments using smartphones combining Android operating system, java, solar cells and micro fuel cells as combined power sources for devices, trying break this old perspective.

Other kind of devices that pass many time disconnected from networks, but in theory have processing capacity to crunch with new rules and approaches, are being considered to be tested too.

Part of the new and innovatives solutions change the approach to crunch big WU's like used today, that are afordable for desktops and notebooks running grid computing.

The new concept is based on quantities of "cores" and new paralel processing techniques, despite of the lower power crunch capacities of mobile devices.

In this way, there are so many mobile devices capable to crunch in the world, that don't matter if each one crunch just a little bit of a traditional grid computing WU , once at the end, many devices will be capable to crunch a complete traditional WU together.

There are many issues yet, like the limitations to reduce and split WU's, in a way that be controled without issues and that continue make sense for researches purposes. Another problem is the cost of the conections to download and upload WU's that will remain with volunteers, the cost of additional energy and bateries, that coukld became a barriers to leverage it, and so on.

I post something about it months ago, but once was from a private source I can't provide details about it, and anyway since that time don't read anything more in scientific papers about it.

Didactylos,
I know very well the limitations and barriers.

I have some scepticism and many concerns about it be feasible too, but I really would like to see some innovative approach that break our vision and put in place it with real benefits for the world.

If it will be reached in reasonable way, without doubt will be a next step
in grid computing technology, with real benefits and consequences for many applications that could help humanity, including many ones in health sciences.

Someone, Nicolas maybe, ported BOINC to an iPhone or similar and quickly gave up. Dramatic decrease in energy use / longevity of the battery power is first of all needed, duh. Personally I think these to be great research projects for students but don't think there's a practical application other than another good avenue to spread the word on grid computing connecting back to desktop/laptop grid computing for if cellphones reach desktop power, desktops will have reached todays supercomputer power.

One project has developed a game like grid project to find best folds. That angle might find route to handheld devices, off-line sitting in a train or plane, and they'll be on line in the not to distant future too.

Whatever way, the data parcels will have to be very small, which will increment traffic contact instances tremendously where data densities needed for research are ever increasing.

But, is that ever increasing bombardment of radiated waves at giga and terahertz good for living beings of all kinds?