Australia launches theSkyNet space project

Western Australian researchers switched on a citizen science project dubbed theSkyNet on Tuesday, hoping that it will spread to computers throughout Australia.

TheSkyNet will pool computing power from home PCs to analyse radio signals from space, gathered by observatories such as the CSIRO Parkes (above). Photo credit: Amanda Slater/Flickr

Despite the similarity in name between the artificial intelligence software from The Terminator films, there is little chance of theSkyNet becoming self-aware and destroying humanity. Rather, its purpose is to use the combined computing power of personal computers to help analyse and interpret radio signals received from space.

Science and innovation minister John Day, who was one of the first to log on to theSkyNet, said that "by connecting hundreds and thousands of computers together through the internet, it will be possible to simulate a single machine capable of processing signals from space, so they can be used by scientists to support their work".

For more on this ZDNet UK-selected story, see theSkyNet launched, set to spread online on ZDNet Australia.