The Phillips Files #9 -- E.T.'s Wrong Number or SETI@Home
by R.P. Phillips

What you see when SETI is processing data.

"SETI@home is a scientific experiment that harnesses the power of hundreds of thousands of Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). You can participate by running a free program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data. There's a small but captivating possibility that your computer will detect the faint murmur of a civilization beyond Earth."

Yep - I'm doing the "geek" thing; but why not? Won't you like to know if someone is really "out there"? The ultimate escape - space!

But, let us now talk about the SETI@Home program itself. Okay, let's talk about the different "SETI" teams.

What about the program you ask! Well, what you see above is pretty much what you get. A program that processes transmission data, basically, in place of your screen-saver. When it is done with one batch of data it automatically [you can set the preferences to manually] connects to SETI@Home site via your internet connection, sends in the results and downloads another batch of data and begins the process all over. It does keep track of your total processing time and total number of data data batches done. You simply download the SETI@Home program from the SETI site, install, restart your computer, alter the preferences, if you prefer, and launch the application. Way to easy to be truly a "geek" thing. Where's the complexity? Where's the "foreign" technological terminology? Ain't none!!!

What's this "teams" thing? Well, instead of going "solo" with your results, you can combine your result with those of others on any of a variety of "teams" - some of which are listed at http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu. As of the writing of this article - there isn't a MacMilitia nor a MacTeens team [that I found], but there are several "Mac" oriented teams.

So, what do you get out of it besides knowing if there is actually someone or something else out there. Nada! What you saw at the top of the article is what you get. I am waiting for some "inspired" team to offer a "prize" based upon one entry per person per batch completed for that "team". Let's say over about next 3 - 6 months. SETI makes it easy - let the "team" leaders make it "profitable".

Ah-oh; sounds like another one of my "rebel-rousing" ideas, doesn't it. And this doesn't even mention the "grand prize" the team should offer to the "first one" to find something [if they're on their team - of course]. Granted, the "bigger" and more "established" sites with teams have a much greater advantage to offer "grander" prizes for simple participation and an extraordinary "grand" prize if a member of their team finds something, but I'm sure some of the smaller teams might be able to offer a little something special. And if SETI@Home would like to increase overall participation - they really need to "add" something to the kitty!!! I would really like to see Apple Inc. and some Apple retailers add to the "kitty" as well. How many more of you would actively participate if there was a new "top of the line" computer, monitor, printer and portable waiting for you [whether it be a G4/500-if you find something "soon" or G5 - G6 - G7 - etc... if it take a while longer]? And those Apple retailers could throw in a $1,000.00+ shopping spree at their "online" stores.

Sounds like a lot of team members really need to do some emailing to those who are in charge of the team they're a member of and it is well past time for the team organizers/leaders to do some negotiating with Apple Inc. and some Apple retailers.

Granted, there can only be "one" first find and the odds of it being a member of any "specific" team are rather low - and the odds of you being the "lucky" finder/winner are astronomical - but, I think some added "inspiration" would ultimately help complete this SETI project and get the world "on its way" to interstellar commercialization. Can you imagine the opportunity for music, literature, science, education and with the ultimate impact being on the Miss Universe contest!

To actually find a world where "Windoze" has not influence would be more than worth it!! A place where Y2K has never been heard of, let alone played to death- oh heaven take me there.

If there is truly intelligent life out there - this would be the time for them to contact us - the G4/500s will be out next month and together with Mac OS 9 and the Cinema Display - it's got to be making the majority of the universe "drool" in anticipation.

To be fair - there is a lot more to be learned about the SETI@Home project and there site at http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu has all the information and all the software you'll need to help you and your computer [not a Mac only program - but who'd want to win a wintel anything?] become a seeker of extraterrestrial intelligence assistants. I've heard "rumors" of there being some teams offering some "stuff" to be the first one - but there isn't enough information on which teams and what they are offering to make a "clear and comprehensive" listing. Perhaps this article will "inspire" more publicity by the teams that are offering prizes and for the teams that aren't presently offering anything - this may be enough to encourage them to start [of course with a lot of help from those reading this article].

If anyone is interested; my present team [yes you can change teams] is Team Mac Addict. You can find out more information about this team at their web site at http://www.MacAddict.com. They also have a page devoted to the different "Mac" teams at their site.

And finally: Yes, this isn't an article like the previous Phillips File, where just about everything bit of information was presented to you. No, this week you get to do the extra surfing and a lot of eMailing to help create better SETI@Home teams - well, more inspired and inspiring teams. With the help of you, the readers of this article, it is my hope that certain "incentives" will be added to urge more active participation by an ever increasing amount of computers and their owners.

R.P. Phillips -- Homepage
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