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Observer XT - Behavioral Science software

The Observer XT is the professional and user-friendly event logging software for the collection, analysis, and presentation of observational data.
Details
Why use The Observer XT:
Code and describe behavior in an accurate and quantitative way.
Integrate video and physiology in behavioral studies.
Make highlight clips of parts of video and data.
Share coding schemes with other researchers.
Code on-the-go using a handheld with Pocket Observer.

The Observer XT is easy-to-use coding and analysis software.
Collect rich and meaningful data.
Code live or from video.
Calculate statistics & assess reliability.
Code and describe behavior in an accurate and quantitative way.
Record time automatically and accurately.
Combine continuous sampling with time sampling.
Integrate video and physiology in behavioral studies.
Analyze groups of observations at once.

The basic The Observer XT system offers the solution for live coding and data analysis. You can extend this basic system with up to five modules, whatever suits your research needs.
1. Advanced Analysis Module
This module allows you to perform two extra types of analysis: 1) reliability analysis - calculate the Kappa,percentage agreement and disagreement, and Pearson's rho, 2) lag sequential analysis - create transition matrixes based on the logged data.
2. Video Module
Ideal for recording and playback of two video sources and the creation of video highlights.
3. Multiple Video Module
Extend the number of media files to four at a time. Larger numbers are possible with a customized version of this module.
4. External Data Module
The External Data Module supports the import of data from a wide range of data acquisition systems. It accurately synchronizes concurrent acquired data of external data acquisition systems. You can combine and analyze physiological signals with the behavioral data and video. The Observer XT 10 has been developed to enable advanced analysis of multimodal data in relation to observational data. This unique feature will make The Observer XT 10 the most complete tool for behavioral research.
5. Software Development Kit (SDK)
A comprehensive documentation package for connecting custom software components and data interfaces. It helps you develop your own add-ons and interfaces. A SDK is available for developers who want to build their own modules or interfaces with other systems. For example, The Observer XT contains a mechanism for executing other (external) applications during certain actions taken by the user in The Observer XT. One of these actions is 'start observation'. You can thus command an external application of your choice, for example a light switch, to react to this action. Another example is a plug-in which offers the possibility to obtain event data from an external program while you carry out a live observation in The Observer XT. The external events, for example presses of a button, are imported simultaneously with your manually scored data in The Observer XT. Interested? You can always contact our sales department for more information.

Software Link : Observer XT - Behavioral Science software

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FaceReader is the world's first tool that is capable of automatically analyzing facial expressions, providing users with an objective assessment of a person's emotion.
Details
What does your face say?
FaceReader is the unique software that
automatically analyzes the 6 basic facial
expressions:
? happy
? sad
? scared
? disgusted
? surprised
? angry
Gather accurate, objective, and detailed information about
the emotions of your test participants.

Software Link : FaceReader - Behavioral Science software

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The Media Recorder is a software tool that enables synchronous video recordings from up to four different sources. Compatible with both The Observer® XT and FaceReader™, and a broad range of cameras, it is the ideal recording tool.
Details
Media Recorder enables you to combine different videos in one study. It is at the core of your lab and offers you precision and flexibility in video recording and synchronization. Media Recorder can also be used as a stand-alone option. For example, use it in your lab to record your videos. In your office you can use FaceReader or The Observer XT to analyze these videos. Media Recorder is interesting for anybody who works with video. If you are thinking of using The Observer XT or FaceReader with video and/or other sources, Media Recorder will add great value to the ease-of-use of your complete solution.

Recording of multiple video files
Using the Media Recorder in your lab enables you to easily combine different videos in one study. It is compatible with a wide range of cameras based on today's technologies, as well as with many analog systems. The Media Recorder can record from multiple FireWire cameras, a screen capture device, USB cameras (web cameras), analog cameras, IP cameras, camcorders, etc. You can record up to four video files simultaneously, record at full resolution and even full HD recording by a screen capture device is possible. You can even record video of up to 100 frames per second. Files can be stored separately or combined into one video file. For example, save four separate video files to study children from four different views for detailed behavioral observations with The Observer XT. The Media Recorder will store the files safely in a user specified location and everything that was recorded together can easily be retrieved at any moment.

Record rapidly occurring behaviors
Particularly when you are studying rapidly occurring behaviors, it is ideal to record videos and score them afterwards with The Observer XT; the playback functionality of The Observer XT allows you to play back the videos at a low speed, and score behaviors in great detail.

Record all videos in sync
Synchronization is vital in multimodal research. Without it, studying time relationships can be difficult. When you use the Media Recorder, you don't have to worry about the data synchronization, because the Media Recorder can record up to four files in sync. For example, study parent-child interaction in an observation lab and use the Media Recorder to combine the videos of the child and the mother:
One ceiling camera is following the mother.
Another ceiling camera is following the child.
The third camera is giving you an overview of the room.
The fourth stream which is recorded by the Media Recorder is a screen capture from the monitor the child is occasionally looking at.
Start recording manually or choose to command the Media Recorder from another software package, such as The Observer XT. You can stop the recording by hand or from another software package.

Fully integrated
The key to synchronization is integration. When you use the Media Recorder, you don't have to worry about the synchronization, because the Media Recorder can record up to four files in sync. Additionally, you can command the Media Recorder from another software program to start and stop recording. By controlling the Media Recorder from for example The Observer XT, you can manage all your data with one application. You can also start facial expression analysis with FaceReader from The Observer XT. By using The Observer XT as the main project manager, you stay in control of your collected data.

Complete solution
You can put your own hardware together or let Noldus assist you with designing the entire set-up as there are always numerous technological issues to consider.

Media Recorder as a stand-alone option
You can use the Media Recorder as a stand-alone, running the Media Recorder on your computer on location (on-site or in an experimental setting) to record, combine, and file your video recordings. Then use the video files later in on your office computer running The Observer XT or FaceReader. This is an easy and efficient way to increase productivity.

Software Link : Media Recorder - Behavioral Science software

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MatMan is a software package for the analysis of sociometric matrices that runs as a plug-in for Microsoft Excel. It performs various statistical tests and includes numerous useful data processing options.
Details

How MatMan works
Matrix analysis requires special calculations that standard statistical packages do not offer. MatMan, especially developed to analyze sociometric matrices by scholars at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, performs various statistical tests and includes numerous useful data processing options.
A major function of MatMan is to calculate and test linear hierarchies. It gives various indices for dominance matrix linearity. Such matrices can be produced with The Observer XT, based on observed conflicts or other interactions, or recorded with pen and paper.

MatMan can also be used to investigate the relationship between different types of interactions by calculating the correlation between matrices. For instance, do grooming relationships correlate negatively with food conflicts? It also enables you to compare lag sequential analysis results obtained with The Observer XT. The probability of the figures per cell in the matrix as a whole can be calculated too, both for lag sequential analysis results and interaction matrices. Significant figures can indicate that behaviors or individuals are somehow connected and that their transitions or interactions are not a coincident.

The core functions of MatMan are augmented by specialized data processing options. This allows you to calculate summary matrices of various types of behaviors, run unidirectional tests, eliminate outliers, transform interaction matrices into dominance matrices, and more. The software was implemented as a plug-in for Microsoft Excel which means that all Excel functionality is available in MatMan.

Software Link : MatMan - Behavioral Science software

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Theme software unravels the time structure of behavior at any level of detail and is effective in the analysis of social interactions.
Details

What is Theme

Theme software unravels the time structure of behavior at any level of detail and is effective in the analysis of social interactions.

Why use Theme

Get new and unexpected insights into your research.

Detect subtle differences in behavior that other methods cannot detect.

Theme is much more powerful than other sequential analysis methods.

Sensitive to patterns, though insensitive to random variation.

Unravel the time structure of behavior at any level of detail.

Analyze raw behavioral data - little or no data pre-processing and post-processing necessary.

Get quantitative results suitable for statistical analysis.

Software Link : Theme - Behavioral Science software

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uLog is the innovative tool for automatically recording user-system interaction.
Details
What is uLog
uLog is the innovative tool for automatically recording user-system interaction.

Why use uLog
Record user-system interaction automatically.
Keep the test PC clean: no registry change on test computer.
Increase the consistency of user experience observations.
Log Windows XP applications accurately and in detail.
Select data of your choice using the advanced filter function.
Combine uLog and The Observer® XT for optimal control, visualization, and analysis options!

Software Link : uLog - Behavioral Science software

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Imagine children on a playground or customers in a busy supermarket. They are constantly on the move and you have to follow them to keep them in sight. In these situations you can rely on Pocket Observer to code behavior.

Details
Handheld observation system
Imagine children on a playground or customers in a busy supermarket. They are constantly on the move and you have to follow them to keep them in sight. In these situations you can rely on Pocket Observer to code behavior.
Maximum freedom in moving.
Follow your test participant around.
Observe unobtrusively.
Can be based on PDA, Smart Phone, or rugged handheld computer.
Cost-effective.

Coding while walking around
If you need to be mobile during observations, but also require accurate coding and analysis, Pocket Observer offers the best solution for your research by combining the power of The Observer® XT with the portability of a rugged handheld, Smart Phone, or PDA! These small and lightweight mobile devices are the ideal event recorders for real life situations.
Pocket Observer is an add-on module to The Observer XT and runs on handheld computers equipped with a VGA screen of 640 x 480 and Windows Mobile 6.x. Pocket Observer allows you to code behavior while literally looking over the shoulder of free ranging test participants, in just about any location.

The handheld device for your research
Handheld devices are the ideal event recorders. A wide variety of handheld computers are available on the market today, ranging from simple PDAs to rugged models for outdoor and industrial environments. Some have a keyboard, allowing you to keep your eyes on the scene while observing, while others are designed for easy coding with a touch screen. Whatever your requirements, we have the knowledge and experience to help you find the right device for your research.

Many advantages
Handheld computers have many advantages. They enable you to visit any location and code behavior on-the-go. You can observe behavior live, on-site, and still keep a high level of accuracy. Heat, frost, mud, dust, or water poses no problem, since a handheld computer is available for any environment. But above all, handheld computers can be very cost-effective, especially if you include a PDA in our handheld observation system.
All you need is our The Observer XT base module to set up your coding scheme and analyze your data afterwards. Install Pocket Observer on one or more PDAs and set up as many Pocket Observer units as you like in combination with one license of The Observer XT.
Benefit from all the features that The Observer XT has to offer, such as support for time and continuous sampling. The Observer XT also features a wide range of analysis functions including detailed statistics, reliability analysis and lag sequential analysis.

How to start
To work with Pocket Observer, first set up your project in The Observer XT on your computer. Here you can easily define your coding scheme and independent variables.
Download it onto Pocket Observer, running on your handheld device, and you are ready to start collecting your data. The looks of the display of the handheld can be modified to suit your application: you can change the font size of the buttons, which makes coding easier and helps prevent errors.
Pocket Observer allows you to add behaviors and modifiers on the handheld during actual observations. When you discover a new behavior during a live observation, just add this to your coding scheme. You don't have to go back to your PC to make changes.
After observing, you simply upload the observation data to your computer for analysis.
Integrate with other data
You can integrate your handheld observation data with recorded video or physiological data. Our modular approach makes it easy to add media files to observations from Pocket Observer. The same goes for physiological data. For example, if your test participant wears a heart rate monitor, you can integrate the acquired data with that of Pocket Observer. During an observation you can mark interesting events. For example, if you test participant starts sweating, you can add a mark in the comment field.

Extensive analysis
Get the most out of your observation data with Theme™: detect patterns in your data that you would not have thought existed.
Full support
All our solutions come with installation, training, and support. We install and test all hardware and software components and make sure you know how to operate your system. We train you how to use our software tools and give advice on different observation methods. If you experience any challenges, our support department is there to help you out. In short, we help you get the best out of your behavioral research!

Software Link : Pocket Observer - Behavioral Science software

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EthoVision XT is the most widely applied video tracking software that tracks and analyses the behavior, movement, and activity of any animal - without the use of sensors! It is a platform you can use for anything from straight-forward tracking to sophisticated protocols that control external devices.
Details
Video tracking with EthoVision XT
Premier video tracking - and much more
EthoVision® XT is the premier video tracking system for the automatic tracking and analysis of animal movement, activity, and behavior. But it is much more than just video tracking software - EthoVision XT is a platform you can use to fully automate your research, increasing productivity and efficiency, while reducing human error.

Any kind of animal
You can use EthoVision XT for several behavioral experiments, on any kind of animal (rodents, farm animals, fish), in any kind of enclosure. No matter what research field you are in: whether you want to test learning and memory in rats or mice, measure the activity of zebrafish larvae, or conduct welfare studies with farm animals, EthoVision XT video tracking will help you out. It guides you through the experiment, from setting up, to data acquisition and analysis.

Features you can use
With EthoVision XT Base you can conduct complete experiments with one animal, in one arena. For a basic video tracking set-up, all you need is the software, a firewire camera, and a computer. With additional Modules other scientific research question can also be answered. For example, study social interaction. Or you might want to create a high-throughput system and track rodents in multiple cages simultaneously. You could also be interested in automating a complete experimental set-up with sensors, lights, automatic doors, and sound stimuli. All this and more is possible with EthoVision XT. Simply pick and choose from the six different Modules and a variety of hardware components to create the solution best suited for your research.

From straight-forward video tracking to full automation of sophisticated protocols
Functionality is not limited to video tracking of the animal's path and calculating statistics, such as distance travelled and velocity. It can track the nose point and tail base of rats and mice, enabling the assessment of behaviors such as body elongation, the interest in certain objects, or nose-nose contact in social interaction studies. The real-time analysis of animal behavior even allows you to create sophisticated protocols for the control of external equipment. In other words, you can control interactions between your animals and external sensor and stimuli devices, such as lights or doors. All together, EthoVision XT allows you to perform a wide variety of experiments.

Software Link : EthoVision XT - Behavioral Science