Linux Super Computer - Powered By Bicycles

September 15, 2007

SiCortex, the first company to engineer a Linux cluster from the silicon up, showed of the energy efficiency that can be achieved in high performance computing.

The SiCortex SC648, was shown at Wired NextFest, and whilst the it conducted complex genomics analysis at billions of calculations per second, it was powered solely by 8-10 cyclists.

“Ten years ago, this analysis was impossible on even the biggest computers, and now it’s being done on a bicycle powered machine,” said Mucci “Ten years from now, we’ll probably be doing it right down at the docks as they unload the ships. But these tools will only proliferate if we learn to design them to be sustainable.”

The computer used in the demo was powered by cyclists from the Jax Racing team using eight special Trek bicycles putting out 260W each.

So maybe it’s time to Wire your PC up to your exercise bike, grab your wireless keyboard and mouse, and get some exercise whilst surfing the web.