1. The Internet has become the
ultimate idle supercomputer
● 2 Bn PCs now online, average CPU load is 2%
● Over 3 Bn mobiles idle and charging at night
● 100s of millions super-fast GPUs, rarely in use
● Total value of Earth's 98%-wasted computing
resources (even assuming just 1c per CPU/hr)
exceeds half a billion dollars per day
- and rising

2. Harnessing it is simple
● As easy as distributing a free screensaver or
mobile phone app – both already written
● Software (BOINC) is open-source, safe, reliable
and secure, supports dozens of science apps
● Existing volunteer grids already outperform
world's fastest supercomputers
● Virtually no hardware costs

3. Harnessing it is difficult
● Individual PC time virtually worthless - cannot
be bought
● Volunteer computing relies on volunteers
● Most of the public (sadly) not motivated enough
to join any science projects
● Scientists like guaranteed computing resources
– not risky advertising campaigns

4. The solution: The Charity Engine
● A huge incentive to join:
● PCs earn 'virtual tickets' into series of prize draws
● Each prize draw pays one volunteer $1m
● Even better reasons to stay:
● Win or lose, volunteer PCs continually earn millions
for our international charity partners
● World-changing benefits to science
● Literally saves lives

5. Where does the money come from?
● Science and industry allowed to rent time on
TCE just like any other cloud or supercomputer:
● 10x cheaper than any other form of computing
● Far more powerful (up to 1000x) than any
supercomputer can ever be – in a class of its own
● Most eco-friendly form of computing on Earth
● Any ethical research permitted:
● Our volunteers don't pick projects, we do
● Guaranteed resources on demand
● Redefines what is possible

6. Proof of public response
● Facebook group:
● 200,000 followers from 130+ countries
● Service not even live yet
● All from $30 per day test advert
● Oxfam's independent market research:
● 52% of public would join right now
● Concluded that The Charity Engine is a
'potential breakthrough concept'

7. Milestones achieved
● Exclusive charity contracts:
● World's best international charities formally involved
● Start-up funding secured:
● $140,000 from three UK-based angels, PMV $1.5m
● Strategic and technical partnerships:
● Prof David Anderson (BOINC director)
● Matt Blumberg and team (GridRepublic)
● Stephen Wolfram (Wolfram Research)
● VP-level talks with SV blue-chips

8. Next steps
● Informing potential customers:
● Liaising with HPC and grid community
● Leveraging industry and press contacts
● Involving the Bay Area:
● Blue-chip corporate or VC partner
to boost interest, drive sales
● Launch the screensaver and website:
● Charities will aid with publicity
●
Service live from March 31st 2011