SetiQuest
Encyclopedia
setiQuest is a project of the SETI Institute
, whose declared aim is to "globalize the search for extra-terrestial intelligence and empower a new generation of SETI enthusiasts", by creating means for a deeper involvement from the interested public. The project focuses on amplifying the human potential of SETI enthusiasts, and consists of four main fronts: Software, DSP Algorithms, Citizen Scientists, and Data release.
After the award, the project materialized through a website, that later garnered grass-roots public involvement on its discussion forum, and also in IRC meetings, various social networks, and a wiki. Some of these channels were set up by the community itself, and others were facilitated through the support of several institutions, in cooperation with the SETI Institute.
code of SonATA, the software used on the Allen Telescope Array
(ATA), into Open SonATA
, to allow improvement by hobbyist programmers who are passionate about the subject and/or enjoy contributing to open source code development projects. To further this goal, setiQuest applied to, and was accepted as part of, the Google Summer of Code
2011 program.
(DSP) algorithms for detection of signals in the background noise captured by the ATA. The algorithms used on the ATA currently only search for continuous wave signals (that is, signals that appear at one frequency as a single tone) or pulsed signals. The goal of this participation mode is to allow signal processing enthusiasts to expand the search to other waveforms, perform improvements in the current algorithms or propose innovative new ones.
, even in non-trivial cases where automated tools currently fail. The first of such apps, setiQuest Explorer was released in March 2011.
license. This data, a subset of the approximately 100 terabytes collected every day, can be downloaded through the setiQuest website.
SETI Institute
The SETI Institute is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to “explore, understand and explain the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe”. SETI stands for the "search for extraterrestrial intelligence". One program is the use of both radio and optical telescopes to search...
, whose declared aim is to "globalize the search for extra-terrestial intelligence and empower a new generation of SETI enthusiasts", by creating means for a deeper involvement from the interested public. The project focuses on amplifying the human potential of SETI enthusiasts, and consists of four main fronts: Software, DSP Algorithms, Citizen Scientists, and Data release.
Jill Tarter's TED wish
The setiQuest project started with Jill Tarter's "TED wish". Tarter was one of three recipients of the 2009 TED prize, which targets outstanding individuals and tries to grant them "one wish to change the world". Tarter's wish was:After the award, the project materialized through a website, that later garnered grass-roots public involvement on its discussion forum, and also in IRC meetings, various social networks, and a wiki. Some of these channels were set up by the community itself, and others were facilitated through the support of several institutions, in cooperation with the SETI Institute.
Software
The Software branch of the project initially entailed opening the sourceOpen source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
code of SonATA, the software used on the Allen Telescope Array
Allen Telescope Array
The Allen Telescope Array , formerly known as the One Hectare Telescope , was a joint effort by the SETI Institute and the Radio Astronomy Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley to construct a radio interferometer that is dedicated to astronomical observations and a simultaneous...
(ATA), into Open SonATA
Open SonATA
Open SonATA stands for Open SETI on the Allen Telescope Array and is the open source version of the software are used for signal detection by the SETI Institute on the Allen Telescope Array . The software currently runs on GNU/Linux and Mac OS operating systems and is intended to be ported to...
, to allow improvement by hobbyist programmers who are passionate about the subject and/or enjoy contributing to open source code development projects. To further this goal, setiQuest applied to, and was accepted as part of, the Google Summer of Code
Google Summer of Code
The Google Summer of Code is an annual program, first held from May to August 2005, in which Google awards stipends to hundreds of students who successfully complete a requested free or open-source software coding project during the summer...
2011 program.
DSP Algorithms
The Algorithms subproject provides a channel for the creation of improved Digital signal processingDigital signal processing
Digital signal processing is concerned with the representation of discrete time signals by a sequence of numbers or symbols and the processing of these signals. Digital signal processing and analog signal processing are subfields of signal processing...
(DSP) algorithms for detection of signals in the background noise captured by the ATA. The algorithms used on the ATA currently only search for continuous wave signals (that is, signals that appear at one frequency as a single tone) or pulsed signals. The goal of this participation mode is to allow signal processing enthusiasts to expand the search to other waveforms, perform improvements in the current algorithms or propose innovative new ones.
Citizen Scientists
setiQuest also targets those who are less technically inclined, through the development of game-like apps to engage participants as Citizen Scientists, examining real data from SETI observations with the Allen Telescope Array. These apps are meant to harness the ability of the human brain to instinctively detect patternsPattern recognition (psychology)
Pattern recognition involves identification of faces, objects, words, melodies, etc. The visual system does more than just interpret forms, contours and colors. Pattern recognition refers to the process of recognizing a set of stimuli arranged in a certain pattern that is characteristic of that set...
, even in non-trivial cases where automated tools currently fail. The first of such apps, setiQuest Explorer was released in March 2011.
Data release
To encourage developers to create new apps, the SETI Institute has made a large amount of its data available to the public, under a Creative CommonsCreative Commons
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization headquartered in Mountain View, California, United States devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has released several copyright-licenses known as Creative Commons...
license. This data, a subset of the approximately 100 terabytes collected every day, can be downloaded through the setiQuest website.