Wageningen, 1 November 1996 - After introducing the DOS version in 1994, Noldus Information Technology today announced the Windows version of The Observer's Video Tape Analysis System, a professional system for collecting, editing, and analyzing observational data from video tape. The new product combines the proven power and flexibility of The Observer software with a user-friendly Windows-based graphical user interface and the latest developments in video time code and multimedia technology. The new features lead to an increased ease-of-use, significant time savings and improved management of observational data. 

Video Image in a Window on the Computer Screen
Using a video overlay board, the video image is displayed in a window on the computer screen, as an alternative for a video monitor. This prevents look-away errors and reduces data-entry errors. It also reduces overall system cost and space requirements. In addition, professional overlay boards allow one to grab video images and store them in disk files for future use as illustrations.

Improved Search Options
Regardless of the size of the observational data set, there are now four different ways to locate records anywhere from the start of the observation. One can search for a video time (e.g., 02.24:36.04), a marker (or any previously entered free-format annotation), a scored event (e.g., a person, activity) or text. One simply specifies the item to search for after which The Observer displays a cursor line next to the target record. One can then click a button "Show Video" to spool the tape to the corresponding video image. This leads to an enormous time savings and greatly improves the management of data and video tapes.

Edit Decision List (EDL)
The new system can be used for preparing "highlight tapes" with selected video clips of the most important events, to support the findings of a research project and get the message across to the audience. An EDL is a script that determines which episodes on one or more source appear on the destination tape and in which order. It can be saved in different formats, for direct import into a video editing system.

Easy Video Tape Control
The program's point-and-click graphical user interface allows the user to control the VCR by clicking the mouse pointer on intuitive mnemonics corresponding with the VCR's front panel functions (play, stop, pause, fast forward, etc.).  

For more information, please contact the product manager of The Observer.