Noldus Information Technology and Penn State University team up in research on computer-supported collaborative work

Noldus Information Technology has entered into a collaboration agreement with Pennsylvania State University. Researchers at Penn State’s Center for Human-Computer Interaction, directed by Prof. John Carroll, are using Noldus data collection and analysis tools in their studies of computer-supported human communication and collaboration. The center will utilize Noldus’ advanced tools to develop new ways to capture human-computer interaction with multiple simultaneous participants, as well as new analytical methods to unravel complex communication processes.
 
Penn State researcher Gregorio Convertino explains: “We are studying the process of sharing and managing knowledge in three-member teams performing emergency management planning tasks on shared maps. We have built a reference task for measuring knowledge sharing/coordination and performance and a role-based multi-view software prototype for studying this process.” This requires advanced data collection and analysis tools. Using Noldus software, multiple data streams are recorded for each collaborator, such as speech, videos, mouse clicks and keystrokes (captured with uLog™), computer screen images, and server logs. In the analysis the multi-stream recordings of the three team members are synchronized and coded in The Observer® XT software. No other readily available software can cope with this level of technical complexity, especially the ability of The Observer XT to function as a platform for synchronized integrated analysis of all the data and video streams, which is vital to the project’s success. Aggregated measures of the team process will be extracted and analyzed in various ways (e.g., T-pattern analysis using Theme™).
 
Noldus supports the project by providing measurement and analysis tools, training and consultancy, and by developing new and improved software in response to user feedback.
Convertino is already looking ahead to the future: “The ultimate goal of this project is to develop software systems for collaborative work that are efficient, effective and easy to use. Such systems will play a pivotal role in crisis and disaster management around the globe. Noldus tools will help us achieve this goal.”

Penn State’s Center for Human-Computer Interaction (http://hci.psu.edu) is an interdisciplinary organizational unit for human-computer interaction research, instruction, and outreach within Penn State and beyond. The Center seeks to leverage and integrate diverse HCI activities throughout the university to facilitate interdisciplinary faculty interaction relating to HCI issues, problems, and opportunities. Additionally, the Center helps to focus and coordinate research and service projects throughout the wider community. It is comprised of faculties from a variety of departments, an example of cross-departmental cooperation. The Center for Human-Computer Interaction is a member of the Human-Computer Interaction Consortium (HCIC), which is comprised of leading academic, governmental and industrial organizations working together to develop and promote the discipline.
 
Noldus Information Technology (www.noldus.com) is a leading developer of software tools and integrated solutions for human-computer interaction research and usability testing. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company operates from offices across Europe and the United States and a worldwide network of distributors.
 
Press contact:
Paige Roderick, marketing coordinator
Noldus Information Technology Inc.
Email: paige.roderick@noldus.com