News 2006
CHI conference again a great success for Noldus
2 June 2006
As the leading developer of software tools and integrated solutions for user experience research and usability testing, Noldus was of course present at CHI 2006, the main event in human computer interaction. The CHI conference took place in Montréal this year, one of the technological centers of North America. Many experts in the field found their way to our impressive booth in the exhibition area to learn more about our latest products and services.
Second scientific article on PhenoTyper has been published
30 May 2006
In October 2004, Noldus Information Technology introduced PhenoTyper: a video-based observation system in which rodent behavior can be automatically monitored. Though initially designed to monitor a single mouse’s behavior, developments resulted in additional versions that are suitable for testing multiple mice, as well as single or multiple rats. PhenoTyper is available in different configurations: a basic cage mainly used for short-term observations and a home cage for long -term continuous observations. Recently, a second scientific article on the PhenoTyper home cage has been published:
Visser, de, L.; Bos, van den, R.; Kuurman, W.; Kas, M.; Spruijt, B. (2006). Novel approach to the behavioural characteristics of inbred mice: automated home cage observations. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 5, 458-466.
Noldus releases uLog™: an innovative tool for the automatic logging of user-computer interaction
29 May 2006
Noldus Information Technology today released an innovative tool for the automatic recording of user-computer interaction: uLog. uLog is the ideal tool for the automatic logging of computer events in usability testing and HCI research. It offers researchers a flexible set-up, easy configuration, increased efficiency, and most importantly, accurate logging of user events.
uLog is an event recorder that can log more than just keystrokes or mouse clicks. It also reports which applications are active, which menus appear in the user interface, and which pages are opened in a web browser. On top of this, uLog records scrolling, copy and paste actions, the distance traveled by the mouse pointer, and more. Running in the background, uLog will not disturb the test or test participant.
With uLog, not only keystrokes are logged: complete text strings are given exactly as the test participant has entered them, so one doesn’t have to figure them out himself. uLog also includes a filter function allowing to select which applications and actions to track.
Noldus opens regional office in Hungary
6 May 2006
After opening offices in Germany, France, and Spain, it is our pleasure to announce the opening of our fourth regional office: Noldus Hungary. Located in Budapest, capital city of Hungary, this branch office with three skilled local employees is ready to advice on how to apply Noldus’ solutions for behavioral research.
This new regional office will enable our customers to directly address requests for information, training, and support in Hungarian to our regional sales engineer Mrs. Kovacs. In addition, the Hungarian office will also continue their product development activities for products such as The Observer XT, Pocket Observer, and uLog.
Noldus enters into a reselling agreement with Tobii
1 May 2006
Noldus Information Technology has recently entered into a reselling agreement with the young Swedish company Tobii Technology. Tobii is already a significant player in the market for eye tracking technology and applications. Eye tracking is a technology used to indicate visual orientation and attention. Nowadays, eye tracking data is increasingly used in research areas such as psychology, usability, advertising, and HCI research. As Noldus is the leader in software tools for the collection and analysis of behavioral data, cooperation with Tobii means that our customers can obtain a complete high-quality solution.
Noldus verbessert Service für deutschsprachige Kunden weiter
6 April 2006
Um besser auf die Bedürfnisse seiner Kunden einzugehen, ist Noldus Information Technology bestrebt, so weit wie möglich vor Ort vertreten zu sein. Diese Philosophie bedeutet, Kunden, wenn immer machbar, in ihrer Muttersprache zu betreuen. Übereinkommend mit dieser Strategie ist Noldus weltweit durch ein Netz von Vertriebspartnern sowie durch eigene Niederlassungen in den USA, Frankreich, Spanien und Ungarn vertreten. Unsere Kunden in Süddeutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz kennen unser Büro in Freiburg im Breisgau. Vom Noldus Hauptsitz in Wageningen, Niederlande, werden ab jetzt auch Kunden in Norddeutschland* in deutscher Sprache betreut. Darüber hinaus wird Noldus schrittweise eine ganze Palette von Publikationen in deutscher Sprache anbieten, von der bereits erschienenen Broschüre für den Psychologiemarkt bis zu einem deutschsprachigen Webportal. Gegen Ende 2006 werden wir ein Büro in Berlin eröffnen. Die zusätzliche Präsenz in Deutschland wird uns gestatten, unseren Kunden erweiterte Dienstleistungen zu bieten, wie Vorführungen unserer Systeme vor Ort, regionale Workshops und User Meetings, Training vor Ort und technischen Support.
EthoVision at the frontiers of research on fish behavior
20 February 2006
Though mainly used to track small rodents such as mice and rats, EthoVision, the computerized video-tracking system, is capable of tracking swim patterns of fish as well. The ability to track fish is important since zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) may one day take over from rats as the most popular laboratory animals.
Noldus and Johnson & Johnson sign technology development agreement
2 January 2006
Wageningen - Noldus Information Technology today announced that it has entered into a technology development agreement with Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development. The agreement entails the joint development of novel tools to automate phenotyping of behaviors in preclinical drug discovery programs. Neuroscientists at J&JPRD’s pharmacological research laboratories in Beerse, Belgium, will take part in specifying and validating new software and instruments developed by Noldus.
Discovering a successful new drug among thousands of candidate compounds requires sensitive behavioral research tools with a maximum throughput. Advances in behavioral testing are made possible by novel research instruments based on breakthroughs in digital image processing and the integration of behavioral and physiological data.