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An Overview of the SPEC/GPC Group,
Its Projects and Membership Options
The SPEC/GPC Group has developed into an umbrella organization for autonomous
project groups that develop new graphics benchmark methods and performance
reporting procedures. The group supports the development of a range
of graphics benchmarks that have a value to the user and vendor communities
and is always looking for new groups that might want to operate under
the SPEC/GPC charter.
By joining the Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC)
in early 1996, the SPEC/GPC Group became part of an organization that comprises
a wide range of performance benchmarking groups. Two years before, the
SPEC/GPC Group reorganized its activities under approved projects to reflect
its expanding role in graphics benchmarking. Each project has an organization
that operates under the auspices of the parent SPEC/GPC Group. The project
group can adopt the procedures of the SPEC/GPC Group or develop its own procedures
that can be tailored to the objectives of the approved project. This
arrangement provides complete autonomy, with the exception that the
project group procedures cannot conflict with those of the SPEC/GPC Group
and its parent organization, SPEC.
Support for the Project Groups
The SPEC/GPC Group provides administrative support for its project groups,
but does not participate in the activities, or influence the results
of, project efforts. The SPEC/GPC organization provides a forum for technical
interchange, for identifying new projects, for coordinating activities
of existing project groups, and for making recommendations regarding
direction, priorities and schedules for group activities.
SPEC/GPC Project Groups
Project groups are the operational bodies for approved projects of
the SPEC/GPC Group. Responsibilities include both the business operation
and the technical development work of the approved projects. Current
SPEC/GPC project groups are the Application Performance Characterization
(SPECapcSM) project and the OpenGL Performance Characterization
(SPECopcSM) project.
Who Can Join and How
Membership in SPEC/GPC project groups is available for an annual fee
to any organization committed to fulfilling the group's goals. Membership
in a SPEC/GPC project group includes membership in the SPEC/GPC Group.
Non-profit organizations, including colleges and universities, are
eligible for Associate status for a discounted annual fee. All project
group, SPEC/GPC and SPEC rules and rights apply to Associates, except for
voting rights.
For more information about membership or to request a membership application,
contact Kathy Powers at 540-349-7878 or by e-mail at gpcinfo@spec.org.
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