What is it? Distributed Computing is a way of sharing a workload across multiple computers. DC allows for very large amounts of data to be sent over the internet to individual computers so they might take small chunks of that data and process it. Of course there are Super Computers which are incredibly fast and powerful but they are also very expensive and very difficult to get time on, but a home computer sits idle more often than it does anything else. The solution is to take the idle time on your PC and put it to use. In fact, there are so many clock cycles that are sitting unused at this very moment that in the time it takes you to read this post likely 20 years worth of computing could have been done. This is why more and more groups are starting to turn to Distributed Computing.
World Community Grid is analyzing potential drug combinations for AIDS and a Human Proteome Folding Project (the next step after mapping the DNA.) Seems they only have work for the AIDs project at the moment.
Distributed.net is working to show that our current level of (computer) security is insufficient at best and needs to be strengthened. Distributed also does an OGR (Optimal Golomb Ruler) which is useful for coding, communications and other tech such as X-ray crystallography and radio astronomy.
SETI@Home is attempting to analyze the incredible backlog of radio information in the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.
Currently I am running the DC client for the WCG but I may dump that in favor of the Distributed.net client as that is simply more my interest and I have done that one in the past. I am sure there are other projects out there if one cares to look. If you know of one I overlooked post it in the comments. Oh yeah, if you join the WCG then choose team "User Friendly" and if you dont know what that is then follow the link on the left. UF is a great comic.
**Update**
Waterboy has skills! You know, like nunchuck skills, bowhunting skills, computer hacking skills... Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills. Waterboy brings DistributedComputing.info to our attention which is the motherlode when it comes to finding a DC project to be a part of.
You ever getting a blog Waterboy?