Scouts are prepared for grid computing

The project will use spare computer processing time to contribute to research

Scouts' home computers will support research into humanitarian causes

The Scout movement is going to use grid computing technology to help an initiative to fight Aids and support other humanitarian projects.

The Scouts have launched a partnership with the World Community Grid project as part of its centenary celebrations.

Members of the youth movement are being encouraged to sign up to a Scouts team on the grid, which will use their computers' spare processing power to contribute research towards FightAIDS@Home and other humanitarian initiatives.

'World Community Grid provides our members with an efficient and effective way in the modern world to make a real difference on problems that plague humanity,' said Dr. Eduardo Missoni, Secretary General of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement.

The IBM-led World Community Grid was set up in 2004. The organisers of the project say that the initiative has processed data equivalent to over 100,000 years of run-time.