Tech Shout!

Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that its PlayStation 3 console, which is a part of Stanford University’s Folding@home project has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most powerful distributed computing network in the world.

This record was first set on September 26 this year when the PS3 Folding@home surpassed one petaflop (a computing milestone that has never been reached before by a distributed computing network).

Moreover, the collective efforts of Sony’s PS3 users have enabled the PS3 alone to reach the petaflop mark on September 23, 2007. This record is proof of the widespread participation of PS3 users from all over the world who have registered to the Folding@home network.

In case you are wondering what the Folding@home project is still about, it is a project to enable scientists to make greater progress in their studies of protein folding and its link to diseases like Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s and Cancer by deploying the PS3’s powerful Cell Broadband Engine (Cell/B.E).

According to Vijay Pande, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University and Folding@home project lead, “To have Folding@home recognized by Guinness World Records as the most powerful distributed computing network ever is a reflection of the extraordinary worldwide participation by gamers and consumers around the world and for that we are very grateful. Without them we would not be able to make the advancements we have made in our studies of several different diseases. But it is clear that none of this would be even remotely possible without the power of PS3, it has increased our research capabilities by leaps and bounds.”

Masayuki Chatani, Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Technology Platform, Sony Computer Entertainment commented saying, “To have PS3 play such a large role in allowing Folding@home to be honored by Guinness World Records is truly incredible. This record is clear evidence of the power of PS3 and the contributions that it is making to the Folding@home network, and more importantly, scientific research.”

Beginning with Folding@home, Sony has assured that it will continue to support distributed computing projects in a variety of academic fields such as medical and social sciences and environmental studies through the use of the PS3 console. The company hopes to contribute to the advancement of science.