The Brief

Our smartphones’ CPUs are powerful - equivalent to that of 6 PCs in the 90’s. What if we could donate bits of this processing power to research labs, when we don’t use it? Various platforms of grid computing already exist since the 1990s, which are platforms that enable people to donate processing power from their computers or mobile devices. Several projects currently run on platforms like BOINC(Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing), like SIMAP(Similarity Matrix of Proteins) – which is University of Vienna’s research initiative to create a vast database of proteins essential for cancer or Alzheimer’s research, possible with the help of grid computing processing power. Although the concept of grid computing is amazing, it has not yet been widespread to the mass population, only being embraced by the ‘techies’ - a very small population, compared to the massive number of nearly 2 Billiion smartphone users with a good will to donate. SIMAP, for instance, only had a global PC-userbase of 60,000 before its partnership with Power Sleep, a smartphone app that has been publicly released to the global audience since February 14th, 2014.

PowerSleep is an innovative social donation platform that launched as part of Samsung’s global brand/CSR campaign under its brand ideal, “Technology only begins to have meaning, when put in the hands of human beings.” This was a perfect fit with grid computing’s problem. What’s the use of a ‘crowd-sourced’ grid computing platform, if we can’t source enough ‘crowd’? The biggest barrier seemed to be the exasperatingly ‘techie’ user interface of grid computing platforms, scaring away most of the general population. Moreover, grid computing caused technical concerns like data security and excessive data/power usage, which only added to the ‘scary factor.’ The challenge was clear – “how do we make grid computing accessible for a wider audience, so that many smartphone users could easily donate their unused processing power?” The time when smartphones are least used is during sleeping – and for many, the last thing they do before going to sleep is setting the alarm. This is why Power Sleep looks and works just like an alarm app. By simply setting the alarm, users agree to receive up to 1MB data packet to calculate and resend to University of Vienna’s SIMAP research server that night. The app donates only when WiFi is connected and during charging, meaning no extra costs for the user. Also, the app only accesses the phones’ processor and no personal data, confirmed by scientists from University of Vienna. Power Sleep can be downloaded on any smartphone with over Android 2.3 – thus global participation was not limited to only Samsung phones but included LG, HTC, Motorola and more. With Power Sleep, now smartphone users from all over the world are donating their unused processing power to help find cure for cancer faster – easily, on a daily basis, without paying a penny. All while they’re sleeping.

App was downloaded over 201,767 times, calculating 1 Million megabytes of data together. With 9,731 app ratings on Google Play of which 68% gave 5 points, it became No.1 in lifestyle category, and Top5 app in total Austria, where the campaign ran. The campaign was covered in more than 650 global media around the world. The partnering research initiative SIMAP of University of Vienna originally had only 60,000 PC-users globally – Power Sleep has increased this global user base by more than trifold within one month. Moreover, the campaign has generated the most active and positive conversations on social media around the brand in Samsung Austria’s history, resulting in the brand to open discussions about prolonged continuation of the project. With the help of a single app, smartphone users are now able to help give hope to millions of cancer patients faster. We think this is a totally new concept for CSR, because besides app development costs, neither the company nor the participants need to pay a penny to donate. Every morning, PowerSleep users all over the world are waking up feeling good, knowing we’ve contributed to good, simply by donating unused processing power - while sleeping. Please take part.