1960sDistant RelativesIn 1965, the developers of an operating system called Multics (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service, an ancestor of Unix) presented a vision of “computing as a utility,” which is similar to grid computing today, according to CERN’s GridCafi website.1970sThe Birth of GridAccording to Grid.org, when computers were first linked by networks, the idea of harnessing unused CPU cycles was born. A few early experiments included a pair of programs called Creeper and Reaper that ran on the ARPAnet (the precursor to the Internet).1980sGrid RefinedScientists used grid computing to connect multiple workstations, which allowed them to work on complicated math problems and software compilations, utilizing idle CPUs to reduce processing times. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe 1996Free Grid!The Globus Alliance formed to conduct R&D for the technology, standards and systems that form the grid. Alliance members eventually produced open-source software that is central to nearly half a billion dollars’ worth of international science and engineering activities. 1997The First on the NetDistributed.net became the first general-purpose grid-computing network on the Internet, according to Grid.org. Distributed.net eventually brought thousands of people together to crack cryptographic challenges in a distributed environment.1999SETI, Phone HomeThe SETI@home project launched at the University of California at Berkeley. It uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Anyone who has an Internet connection and some spare CPUs can participate by running a free program that analyzes radio telescope data. So far, more than 5 million people have signed up. 2001Top This!Launched in August by the National Science Foundation, the TeraGrid aims to build and deploy the world’s largest distributed infrastructure for open scientific research by linking major supercomputing sites such as the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Center for Advanced Computing Research at the California Institute of Technology. SOURCES: CERN’s GridCafi; Grid.org; Globus Alliance; SETI@home; TeraGrid Project Related content opinion The changing face of cybersecurity threats in 2023 Cybersecurity has always been a cat-and-mouse game, but the mice keep getting bigger and are becoming increasingly harder to hunt. By Dipti Parmar Sep 29, 2023 8 mins Cybercrime Security brandpost Should finance organizations bank on Generative AI? Finance and banking organizations are looking at generative AI to support employees and customers across a range of text and numerically-based use cases. By Jay Limbasiya, Global AI, Analytics, & Data Management Business Development, Unstructured Data Solutions, Dell Technologies Sep 29, 2023 5 mins Artificial Intelligence brandpost Embrace the Generative AI revolution: a guide to integrating Generative AI into your operations The CTO of SAP shares his experiences and learnings to provide actionable insights on navigating the GenAI revolution. By Juergen Mueller Sep 29, 2023 4 mins Artificial Intelligence feature 10 most in-demand generative AI skills Gen AI is booming, and companies are scrambling to fill skills gaps by hiring freelancers to make the most of the technology. These are the 10 most sought-after generative AI skills on the market right now. By Sarah K. White Sep 29, 2023 8 mins Hiring Generative AI IT Skills Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe