So what exactly is Multiplicity and why should you use it? Multiplicity is a program that allows users to take multiple computers in a given room and use them together as if they were one mega-computer. It's not quite "distributed" computing but in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing, it can come pretty darn close.
The idea behind Multiplicity is that each computer in the room still has a monitor hooked up to it. But only a single "master" computer needs to have a keyboard and mouse. The computers are connected together via a network connection (wireless, direct ethernet, firewire, whatever). Multiplicity can detect other computers that have it installed and allow the user to choose the physical location of the other computer (to the left or right of the master computer for example). When the user moves their mouse cursor onto a screen connected to another computer, the user is then controlling that computer. It's not remote control. The monitors are still connected to their respective computers. You're just using one keyboard and mouse to handle your various computers. Multiplicity then sets up a universal clipboard between the machines which helps them work together as one.
What makes Multiplicity special is its reliability and ease of setup and management. It's incredibly easy to set up and manage and has a lot of usability options that can help make people highly productive.
Multiplicity is used by all kinds of people. We've sold copies to test centers where a single person might want to be using several computers at once. We've sold it to IT departments where the IT administrator might want to clear off their desks of various keyboards and mice and use just one set to control the various computers under or on their desks. We've sold copies to graphics designers, 3D modelers, software developers, and power users. We even have a lot of people using it to help them play games.
So how is Multiplicity used? Here are some specific examples:
| Scenario 1: What do do with the old machine?
So you've got a new computer, but your older computer still has some life in it. Do you just let it collect dust? And what about getting all those files off of it? Multiplicity can solve that. Just get a cheap old monitor and hook it up to the old computer and use it right next to your new machine. As you need a file from your old computer, just right click on the file, choose copy, and then paste it onto your new machine's desktop. |
| Scenario 2: The laptop of tablet PC user
Your main desktop has the better mouse and keyboard on it. But you have a laptop (or tablet PC) that you use heavily. Multiplicity is very handy for this. You can use your main desktop machine's keyboard and mouse to control your laptop or tablet PC (if you have a tablet PC, Multiplicity is a must-have). |
| Scenario 3: The testing lab
Do you ever have to test something on multiple hardware configurations? Multiplicity lets you r clear your work area of excess keyboards and mice and lets you run those various computers from a single keyboard and mouse. If your desktop has more than one keyboard and mouse on it, you need Multiplicity. |
| Scenario 4: The Artist
If you use 3D Studio Max or Maya you should think about getting Multiplicity. Have one machine dedicated to rendering and another one that has your graphics editing package (Photoshop or whatever) and a third machine that you use that is your more casual office machine. You get the resources of all 3 machines, you can move graphics and such between all machines, etc. |
| Scenario 5: The software developer
Do you write software? Having one computer that is doing the actual debugging and coding and the other one that you use for everything else can be very handy. On a personal note, when writing Galactic Civilizations II it was very handy to be able to take screenshots on the development machine and then paste them into my Word document on the other machine to let me get ready for E3. But it also comes in handy because I never lose work due to "Bad things" happening to my other projects because debugging locked something up. I used to use SMP boxes and multi-monitor setups, never again. |
| Scenario 6: The Gamer
There's a bunch of scenarios for gamers. Whether that be the MMO player wanting to have two characters at once. Or the user who likes using Instant Messenger a lot but doesn't like getting interrupted while playing games. Or the gamer who wants to be able to surf the web for hints or whatever while they're playing but also doesn't want to give up any memory or CPU to other programs while playing. |
Multiplicity really does transform how you use your computers. Right now, as you read this, if you've got more than one keyboard and mouse on your desk, or you have a laptop and a desktop PC, you should definitely check out Multiplicity.
For those of you who have Multiplicity, let us know how you use it.
