World Community Grid/Gütesiegel/en
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Evaluation of World Community Grid (March 2007)
Evaluation took place in 4 categories, each awarding credits ranging from 0 to 5 points, and an overall rating. We had employed an evaluation board of 4 people, the (rounded) average was used.
Inhalt
Category 1: Reliability
There are BOINC/en-clients for Windows, Linux and MacOS X, there is an alternative Windows UD-Client (that utilizes only 60% CPU-load by default). A multitude of projects ensure a steady flow of work units in case of troubles with one or two. Website and servers are available almost all of the times, there was only one severe outage caused by heavy weather last autumn.
Category 2: Communication Policy
The website is available in English, French and Chinese, it provides an proactive information policy about technical and scientific issues, fast support is given in the well-arranged forum and also via email.
Category 3: Instructions
The instructions for the UD-Client are well structured and informative, but at the time of this evaluation these instructions were available in English, only. There is also no reference to the other available client. The instructions for BOINC/en are a bit confusing and tucked away.
Category 4: Benefit for the general public
At present, only projects with medical and biological relevance are running, the results are public domain, and new projects applying to become a future part of the World Community Grid have to go through a tough evaluation process and must meet demanding overall standards in order to successfully join. Evaluation is carried out by a group of international experts and there is extensive background information available concerning the scientific aspects behind each of the supported projects which is either provided on the World Community Grid website itself or in the form of appropriately arranged weblinks.
Overall Rating
We think, that the World Community Grid infrastructure provides some of the best projects available in DC. Negative issues are the problematic parallel running of the UD-Client and the grid.org client which is confusing many participants with respect to the credits statistics and the fact that with only 60% of CPU power consumption, the UD-Client does not make a maximum out of the resources provided by the users.
