BitTorrent uses cooperation of many computers on the web to allow the download of very large files. With normal download programs you are transfering a file from one computer to another. If it is a large file those two computers must maintain that communcations for a very long time. For a CD's worth of data we are talking hours. For a DVD's worth of data even longer. If multiple people want the same file the computer supplying the file must share its time between each user that wants the file. It does not take many requesters before the process grinds to a halt. With BitTorrent the downloaders share the effort. The source computer passes out a little of the file at the time to requesters but the requesters also know about the other requesters and they begin sharing the pieces that they have received with each other. The sharing is prioritized so that each requester attempts to get the rarest pieces first. As a result the rare pieces are passed around and soon they are not rare. By cooperating the process makes sure that no computer becomes overwhelmed and everyone gets the file. By cooperating gets something that no one computer could accomplish by itself. For a more detailed explaination try this Wired article or BitTorrents 101. And think about how cooperation could apply to your products. How can a lot of small processes or devices accomplish what one large device cannot and usually at a significant savings.