Wageningen, 3 February 1995 – Noldus Information Technology today announces the releases of The Observer for the Macintosh. The Observer is a professional software package for observing, coding, timing and analysing series of events. It permits an accurate quantative measurement of behaviors, postures, movements positions in space, verbal or non-verbal interactions between persons, etc. The Observer is used for research applications in areas ranging from psychology, zoology and pharmacology to ergonomics, usability testing, human factors, man-machine interactions, process analysis, labor and time studies, safety auditing, traffic research, and sports research. With the new release, The Observer is now available for both DOS and Macintosh computers. The new product, which combines the ease of use and versatility of the Mac’s graphical user interface with the flexibility of The Observer, is the first general-purpose tool for observational research available for Macintosh users. Shipping will start in the first week of March. A version for Windows is scheduled for release in Summer 1995.

New Features – The Observer for the Macintosh comes with a variety of enhanced features compared to the DOS version. New is the Project Manager, which encompasses all information pertaining to a particular observational study or experiment. Opening a project gives immediate access to all relevant data, which are automatically passed on to other program modules. The Project Manager also includes file operations (import, edit, remove, etc.). The program embraces the MDI standard, allowing you to work on several projects at a time.

Configuration – The user starts with designing a ‘configuration’ by defining keys on a computer keyboard as events. The program can handle practically unlimited numbers of events and subjects. Modifier categories can be used to record objects being manipulated, directions and intensities of acts, etc. Finally, the program supports all commonly used sampling methods, including instantaneous (multi-moment) sampling to scan one or more subjects at regular intervals.

Event recording – Events can be scored directly on a desktop Macintosh or PowerBook. Alternatively, the coding scheme can be transferred to a hand-held computer for mobile data collection (e.g. in laboratory, factory, hospital or field). Events are recorded by pressing the appropriate key(s) when an event occurs. The program time-stamps each entry end checks it against the user-defined configuration. Data antry errors can be corrected on-line or after the session has been completed.

Analyzing observational data – Time-event tables and graphical plost allow a quick inspection of the raw data. Elementary statistics include, among others, latency, frequency and duration of events, which can be calculated for individual subjects and/or events, or collapsed across groups. Nested functions are available to investigate the simultaneous occurence of events, while lag sequential analysis examines how often events are preceded or followed by other events. Finally, reliability analysis compares observational data for intra- and inter-observer agreement. Export options to all major spreadsheet, database and statistics packages are provided.

Noldus Information Technology specializes in computer products and services for behavioral and observational research. Besides The Observer, the company offers EthoVision (an automatic video tracking and motion analysis system), sound analysis systems, as well as consulting and training in observational research methods and techniques. All products are available directly from Noldus Information Technology or from international distributors.

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