The term benchmark' comes' from the chiseled horizontal marks that surveyors made, into which an angle-iron could be placed to bracket ("bench") a leveling rod, thus ensuring that the levelling rod can be repositioned in exactly the same place in the future.

Benchmark may refer to:

Geology

• Benchmark (surveying), a point of reference for a measurement
• Benchmark (crude oil), a reference for and discussion of cost and/or pricing of petroleum, such as Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate in terms of benchmarks based on classification differences.
• Benchmarking (geolocating), a sport similar to geocaching in which participants individually go out and find benchmarks
• Benchmarks (geology), signposts in the geologic record known as Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Points (GSSP) and also Global Standard Stratigraphic Ages (GSSA).

Other uses

• Benchmark (computing), the result of running a computer program, or a set of programs, in order to assess the relative performance of an object by running a number of standard tests and trials against it
• Benchmarking, the process used in management in which organizations evaluate various aspects of their processes in relation to the best practice, usually within their own sector
• Benchmark Capital, a venture capital firm behind various startups, such as (and including) eBay.

Benchmarks can measure the skills of the computer or the computer user. These are the 50 most basic computer user skills. The computer skills needed to use a computer, view documents, create documents, and to print to a connected printer.

1. Identify the monitor.
2. Identify the CPU.
3. Identify the mouse.
4. Identify CD-ROM drive.
5. Identify floppy drive.
6. Identify the keyboard.
7. Identify the printer.
8. Move the mouse.
9. Left click the mouse.
10. Locate numbers and letters on a keyboard.
11. Understand typing on the keyboard enters data.
12. Use space bar.
13. Use Enter or Return.
14. Use punctuation keys.
15. Use shift keys.
16. Delete text with delete key.
17. Delete text with backspace key.
18. Use the four arrow keys.
19. Use the Start button on the computer, monitor or printer.
20. Shut down the computer.
21. Restart the computer.
22. Insert floppy disks correctly.
23. Remove floppy disks correctly.
24. Insert CD-ROMs correctly.
25. Remove CD-ROMs correctly.
26. Start programs.
27. Quit programs.
28. Understand what a file is.
29. Create new document.
30. Save a document.
31. Open a document.
32. Close a document.
33. Use "Save As."
34. Save a document to hard drive.
35. Save a document to floppy disk.
36. Understand (desktop) icons.
37. Double click the mouse.
38. Minimize window.
39. Close window.
40. Restore window.
41. Resize window.
42. Insert and move cursor using mouse.
43. Highlight existing text.
44. Change text style (font type).
45. Change text size.
46. Change text with boldface.
47. Change text with italics.
48. Change text with underline.
49. Change text justification or alignment.
50. Print whole document to the printer.

References

With permission from CAAAELII. Source: Simple Language Computer Lessons skills survey at CAAAELII.org, which references San Diego City Schools Educational Technology Department[1], which references National Educational Technology Standards at Iste.org

Other websites

• 70 benchmarks - A list of 70 benchmark softwares working for Linux