Ok, so maybe the loss of the ‘Other OS’ feature from your PS3 may not have affected your gaming, but the removal of the feature has repercussions in universities and even the US Air Force.
Back in the day when the PS3 was released, the US Air Force purchased 20,000 PS3s to create a cost-effective supercomputer.
The Impact on the US Air Force
The US Air Force has installed Linux on the 20,000 PS3s, and although they may not be affected by the firmware updates, if any replacement PS3s are required, then problems might arise. The ‘Other OS’ feature allowed the PS3 to run Linux, making it a versatile and affordable option for creating a supercomputer. This supercomputer, known as the Condor Cluster, was used for various tasks, including radar enhancement, pattern recognition, and processing satellite imagery. The removal of the ‘Other OS’ feature means that if any of these PS3s fail, finding replacements that can run Linux will be challenging, potentially disrupting critical operations.
Academic and Research Implications
As well as the US Air Force, a number of universities have also taken advantage of the cell processor’s power-to-dollar ratio. The University of Massachusetts is currently working with a cluster of 16 of the consoles. These clusters are used for research in fields such as computational biology, climate modeling, and physics simulations. The ability to run Linux on the PS3 allowed researchers to leverage the console’s powerful hardware for complex computations at a fraction of the cost of traditional supercomputers.
For example, the University of Massachusetts utilized the PS3 cluster to simulate protein folding, a process crucial for understanding diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. The removal of the ‘Other OS’ feature could hinder such research efforts, as replacing or expanding these clusters would become significantly more expensive.
Is It Fair?
Though hopefully, Sony would make an exception to the rule for certain parties, the question arises: is this fair? The decision to remove the ‘Other OS’ feature was primarily driven by security concerns and the desire to prevent piracy. However, this decision has had unintended consequences for institutions that relied on this feature for legitimate and beneficial purposes.
The broader implications of this decision highlight the delicate balance between security and functionality. While Sony’s move may protect its intellectual property, it also underscores the importance of considering the diverse ways in which technology is utilized. The PS3’s unique capability to run Linux made it a valuable tool for both military and academic research, and its removal has left a gap that is not easily filled.
More information about the US Air Force and their use of the PS3s can be found here.
Via Gaming Today
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