User:Lewiscatton/ObserverXT

=The Observer XT= The Observer XT is a commercially available tool used for the collection, analysis and management of observational data such as video and transcripts. Its development started 20 years ago and has been in hundreds of studies. It has two key features:
 * Its ability to take notes, code human behaviour manually, and analyse that data.
 * Its ability to integrate and inspect a wide variety of data sources.

An observer system is built around The Observer XT software. The system can be customized depending on the experiment requirements with hardware and software modules. The used modules in the second NLR experiment and in the Elbit experiment are listed below. The ones marked with an asterisk (*) were used post-experiment, the others during the experiment.
 * Video Module - For synchronized recording of video during the observation (maximum two digital media files or one external digital tape in a camcorder device), and offline scoring of digital media files or one external digital tape. All video functionality is in this module.
 * Multiple Video Extension - An add-on for synchronized playback of four instead of two digital media files.
 * External Data Module - For synchronized recording of data on an external data acquisition system, and synchronized playback of these signals with the behavioural data and digital media files if applicable. The External Data Module supports the import of data from a wide range of data acquisition systems.
 * Noldus MPEG Recorder - For the synchronized recording of four video sources in MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 format.
 * Screen Capture Module - For recording computer screens as a digital media file, with picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture functionality, as well as audio recording.
 * Simulator Module - For synchronized recording of simulator data sent over a TCP-IP network.
 * Data Import* - data can be imported by defining import profiles. These profiles describe the way data needs to be converted.
 * Data Filtering* - The Observer XTs data filters allow reduction of data by focussing on specific experimental conditions. It is also possible to focus on specific (series of) events.
 * Data Analysis* - descriptive statistical analysis is available. More specialized analysis, Reliability Analysis and Lag Sequential Analysis) is also available.
 * Data Manager* - this module contains all functions needed for managing data.

=Output= Data collected by The Observer can be used in various ways, depending on the experiment design, chosen scenario and formulation of hypotheses. Some possible interpretations of the quantitative output:
 * Task complexity: number of relevant events, rate of events, duration of events
 * Mental workload, (variation in) duration of events
 * Usability: efficiency, effectiveness

=Methodology= The Observer XT was in the second phase experiment evaluated in two experiments. One experiment was run together with partners Elbit and RuG. The other was run in the NLR GRACE simulator.

Elbit experiment
The aim of this experiment was to verify the suitability of a low level simulator for HF experiments. In this experiment the Multiple Video Module and the Noldus MPEG Recorder were not used. Two new modules, the screen capture module and the Simulator Module, were used for the first time.

NLR experiment
During this experiment The Observer XT was used to record the crew’s activities on video during the trials and to integrate this with other data. The Screen capture module and the Simulator module were not used. The Observer XT was used to collect relevant data and distribute this to HILAS partners.

=References=
 * HILAS Home Page
 * Flight Deck Technology Strand