Post your ideas for promoting BOINC

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John37309
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Message 17865 - Posted: 13 Jun 2008, 19:00:47 UTC
Last modified: 13 Jun 2008, 19:01:51 UTC

Please do post any thoughts or ideas you have for the promotion of BOINC and all the projects.

John.

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Message 18101 - Posted: 29 Jun 2008, 14:56:18 UTC
Last modified: 29 Jun 2008, 14:58:24 UTC

John:

I have been lurking on this site for the last hour or so and one thing that needs to be worked on to attract [and retain] the interest of the newbies is to move away from the technojargon and strive to be more newbie friendly.

The real strength and promise of BOINC isn't those participants with enough computing assets to heat an office building, but the vast majority with a computer or two who wants to share their spare computer cycles for a worthwhile cause. Individual accomplishment and sense of purpose should be the BOINC operative force.

Since this website doesn't support embedding videos, I will link to this parallel thread:

Using YouTube to help explain BOINC and it's projects
If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking. - General George Patton



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Profile Gundolf Jahn

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Message 18102 - Posted: 29 Jun 2008, 16:51:11 UTC - in response to Message 18101.  
Last modified: 29 Jun 2008, 16:53:32 UTC

...
Since this website doesn't support embedding videos, I will link to this parallel thread:

Using YouTube to help explain BOINC and it's projects

I think it should read:
Using YouTube to help explain BOINC and its projects

Sorry, I know it's off topic and doesn't really help to attract newbies, but I have to defend a reputation as "Besserwisser" (= know-it-all :-).

Gruß,
Gundolf

[edit] or is it "help attracting"? :-)[/edit]
Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)
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Message 18103 - Posted: 29 Jun 2008, 17:30:37 UTC - in response to Message 18102.  

...
Since this website doesn't support embedding videos, I will link to this parallel thread:

Using YouTube to help explain BOINC and it's projects

I think it should read:
Using YouTube to help explain BOINC and its projects



Gundolf:


I stand corrected



If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking. - General George Patton



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John37309
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Message 18106 - Posted: 29 Jun 2008, 19:53:34 UTC - in response to Message 18101.  
Last modified: 29 Jun 2008, 20:00:09 UTC

John:

I have been lurking on this site for the last hour or so and one thing that needs to be worked on to attract [and retain] the interest of the newbies is to move away from the technojargon and strive to be more newbie friendly.

I agree!!

But even the most basic things in BOINC are explained using technical jargon. Think about this, if Microsoft, Google, yahoo and all the other Hugh computing companies never bothered to make the "Internet itself" user friendly, none of this stuff would exist today. It takes a very clever program developer to understand that. If everything is programed so complete dummies can use it, then the users with more advanced knowledge will simply figure out the more advanced stuff by themselves.

Take "Internet Explorer" browser for example, its used on about 90% of the worlds computers. IE is a very very complex computer program for browsing the Internet, complete dummies can learn how to use it in a few minutes. Does the user see any of the complex program, NO. Does the user need to know anything about the complex program, NO. You simply open the window and start surfing. There is no typing necessary, just keep clicking your way around the Internet using visual images, buttons and icons.

BOINC is heavily dominated by text, typing and textual looking websites. 90% of internet users either don't want to type anything or can't type anything or have bad spelling and are afraid to type anything. They just want the simple life of surfing with their mouse.

John.
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Message 18110 - Posted: 29 Jun 2008, 20:59:44 UTC - in response to Message 18106.  

John:

I have been lurking on this site for the last hour or so and one thing that needs to be worked on to attract [and retain] the interest of the newbies is to move away from the technojargon and strive to be more newbie friendly.

I agree!!

But even the most basic things in BOINC are explained using technical jargon.



John:

Early in my BOINCing experience, I found this link.

I haven't found a more helpful guide to BOINC anywhere, bar none.

More newbies need to have access to this resource.





If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking. - General George Patton



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FangRust

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Message 18448 - Posted: 15 Jul 2008, 5:55:54 UTC

Greetings - I did SETI a few years ago and have recently come back to @home computing. I'm an average computer user but have to say that I agree there is enough techno-jargon to muddle the gray cells. First I'm looking at World Community Grid , then switch to BOINC, then see Grid Republic, then come accross Folding@home (Stanford). Then there is the issue of teams - should I or shouldn't I? What's the point? The bottom line for me is how do I and my computer deliver the most crunches to the orgs. What are the optimum settings for my system to deliver the most bang for the buck? Reading some of the boards tells me that a lot of people are asking questions about a lot of techno-crap that the software should take care of. I don't need to speak/understand computer science, biology, chemistry, astro physics, and blah, blah, blah. I just want to donate what I can and use the KISS method. It seems to me if you want to attract and retain newbees, the simpler the better. And then if those people want to get more technical - hey there is enough out there to wet anyones thirst.
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Message 18469 - Posted: 15 Jul 2008, 13:17:20 UTC - in response to Message 18448.  
Last modified: 15 Jul 2008, 13:41:56 UTC

Greetings - I did SETI a few years ago and have recently come back to @home computing. I'm an average computer user but have to say that I agree there is enough techno-jargon to muddle the gray cells. First I'm looking at World Community Grid , then switch to BOINC, then see Grid Republic, then come across Folding@home (Stanford).



I have been involved in BOINC for a little over a year now, and I must agree, there is an overload of choices with little overall plan.


Then there is the issue of teams - should I or shouldn't I? What's the point?


First off, there are entirely too many teams. . . about 75K. This could be drastically cleaned up by deleting any team that hasn't scored a point in three months.

I would look for a team that had an useful and interesting message board and participates in the crunching competitions that are offered [the PrimeGrid Challenge series for example]


The bottom line for me is how do I and my computer deliver the most crunches to the orgs. What are the optimum settings for my system to deliver the most bang for the buck?



Unfortunately some of the most worthy projects only have work occasionally [i.e. LHC, SIMAP, Lattice, Cels and MindModeling], running them requires regular attention. . .


If you are looking for a set it and forget it experience, I would recommend running at least 3 of the following BOINC blue chips [Rosetta, Einstein, QMC, Poem and WCG] so that if one runs out of work or has server issues, the others will keep your box running.


Reading some of the boards tells me that a lot of people are asking questions about a lot of techno-crap that the software should take care of. I don't need to speak/understand computer science, biology, chemistry, astro physics, and blah, blah, blah. I just want to donate what I can and use the KISS method.



Most newbie BOINCers want to contribute to worthy causes and participate in interesting science. Appeals to individual accomplishment and sense of purpose are things that will keep them crunching.



It seems to me if you want to attract and retain newbees, the simpler the better. And then if those people want to get more technical - hey there is enough out there to wet anyones thirst.



I believe that the set it and forget it school of BOINC participation needs to get it's own thread.

Coming soon. . . .
If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking. - General George Patton



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John37309
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Message 18484 - Posted: 15 Jul 2008, 17:00:48 UTC
Last modified: 15 Jul 2008, 17:09:15 UTC

Its difficult to simplify it any further, the whole thing is quite complex for various reasons. In the last few months, the guys brought in a new feature to BOINC manager so when you attach to a project, you just click the name and it adds the URL to the box. I must give credit to the developers, that small feature has made a world of a difference. It made it simple for users to just pick the projects they want. Super feature, one of the best yet!

I have not used BOINC 6.xx.xx yet, so i don't know what it looks like. I do think the next step to improve attaching to projects would be choosing your projects by clicking "Icon's" for the project. People relate better if something is "visual and written". To see what i mean, see the new mod we have been developing for the "Your account" page on the projects; Test page for "Your account". That "Your account" mod is working on MindModeling@home. I think choosing the project to attach to in BOINC manager should have similar icon's. Example; Click the SETI@home icon to insert the SETI@home URL. And the user should have no need to see the URL either, that sould be an advanced function for BOINC addicts like me. I should be just putting a tick beside the SETI@home icon and then clicking "Proceed to the next step".
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Message 18485 - Posted: 15 Jul 2008, 17:44:52 UTC - in response to Message 18484.  

Its difficult to simplify it any further, the whole thing is quite complex for various reasons.



John:


Here I have to disagree with you.

BOINC 101, designed for the newbie and those who want a set it and forget it experience could be set up to run as a screensaver [and only run when the screensaver appears], with no more thought to it than any other screensaver.

This could run a basket of BOINC projects [either selected automatically or as options], tailored to the capability of the computer and the newbie's usage style.

I have real reservations about accepting the status quo as being as good as it can get.

If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking. - General George Patton



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John37309
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Message 18487 - Posted: 15 Jul 2008, 17:55:46 UTC - in response to Message 18485.  

Its difficult to simplify it any further, the whole thing is quite complex for various reasons.


John:

Here I have to disagree with you.

BOINC 101, designed for the newbie and those who want a set it and forget it experience could be set up to run as a screensaver [and only run when the screensaver appears], with no more thought to it than any other screensaver.

This could run a basket of BOINC projects [either selected automatically or as options], tailored to the capability of the computer and the newbie's usage style.

I have real reservations about accepting the status quo as being as good as it can get.

Don't get me wrong, i agree with you. There is room for improvement in everything.

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Message 24331 - Posted: 16 Apr 2009, 21:14:26 UTC

I would like to be my own entity, with team name and password, and still be part of my team, like a child team to it. My team deserves credit, but I might be more personally involved if I felt like I was my own instance, and I CHOSE to be associated with my parent team.

The overwhelming ammount of teams could maybe be resolved by allowing teams to merge, creating powerful parent merger teams. This could spark interest especially in those who feel they have no chance individually against the power crunchers out there?
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Profile Daniel Michel
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Message 24633 - Posted: 28 Apr 2009, 22:28:25 UTC

BOINC needs a slogan to go with it's graphic logo...Something that gives a hint of the good that people can do when they participate in BOINC projects...

Some samples:

Save the World...Help unlock the secrets of the universe...

Real science...at home on your computer

BOINC...The world working together.

The power of your computer...Unleashed




"There's no such thing as normal people...Just abnormal people with delusions of grandeur"
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John37309
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Message 24657 - Posted: 30 Apr 2009, 16:10:27 UTC - in response to Message 24633.  
Last modified: 30 Apr 2009, 16:14:23 UTC

BOINC needs a slogan to go with it's graphic logo...Something that gives a hint of the good that people can do when they participate in BOINC projects...

Some samples:

Save the World...Help unlock the secrets of the universe...

Real science...at home on your computer

BOINC...The world working together.

The power of your computer...Unleashed


Or how about;
"Get BOINC Now!"
"Download BOINC"
"Powered by BOINC"
"Do you BOINC?"

Help promote BOINC; http://www.unitedboinc.com/en/help-promote-boinc


John.
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Profile Daniel Michel
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Message 24903 - Posted: 16 May 2009, 23:42:46 UTC

I think a series of "That's Why I BOINC" videos released to various video outlets like YouTube could be helpful...Real people simply telling viewers why they joined...and why they stay involved in BOINC projects.


"There's no such thing as normal people...Just abnormal people with delusions of grandeur"
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Per Lindholm

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Message 25183 - Posted: 3 Jun 2009, 7:47:42 UTC

Supercomputing for the users, a two way system.


The willingness to donate computing power will only go so far, but if you can offer some functionality in return I believe a lot more people would participate in these projects.

Therefore Im suggesting a two way system that virtually stores the users computing power for later use.

That is, by letting your computer do the projects work-units you could later trade that work for access to high performance clusters. These would have various programs that perform intensive tasks that otherwise would take too long for a single home computer to complete.

The idea is that if you give back computing power to the participant you can increase the total amount of computing power many times over.
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Message boards : Promotion : Post your ideas for promoting BOINC

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