FocusVision adds on-line viewing service
FocusVision Worldwide, Inc., a Stamford, Conn., provider of videoconferencing services, has introduced FocusVision Online, a new service that enables clients to view live focus groups on a PC in the office, at home, or on the road. The service uses a proprietary two-camera system and software utilizing picture-in-picture technology. FocusVision Online can be used in combination with videoconferencing or by itself. A backroom chat function allows remote viewers to communicate with each other while viewing the focus group on their PC.
On-line service links research providers, clients
Nextresearch.com is an on-line service designed to facilitate the buying and selling of research services via the Internet, giving research providers and buyers interactive capabilities for RFP development and transmission and also research project costing. Clients query the database for prospective research providers geographically, by research specialty, or any number of different ways. Using the query results. users can then submit multiple RFPs via e-mail to the research providers of their choice. Members can build bids with the service's EasyCOSTING process and respond to RFPs by return e-mail.
Questionnaire software from CfMC, NIPO
San Francisco-based CfMC and Netherlands-based NIPO Software have released The Script Composer, software designed to simplify the programming of CATI, CAPI and Web questionnaires. Features include a visual questionnaire editor, easy navigation via tree and text views, a questionnaire library accessible via OOBC, and automatic importing of any text file. The software generates CtMC- and NIPO Software-compatible script formats and allows conversion to and from CtMC and NIPO Software script formats.
SPSS offers free 45-day software trial
SPSS Inc., Chicago, is offering a free, 45-day trial version of its new time-series forecasting software products, DecisionTime and Whatlf? DecisionTime's Expert Modeler works by using a large family of forecasting algorithms, automatically selecting the best method and building a sound forecast from historical data. DecisionTime identifies which factors are significant predictors, providing the ability to make decisions which can have a positive effect on future results. DecisionTime users can then deploy their forecasting models to decision makers and planners throughout their organization. Using WhatIf?, those decision makers can build different scenarios finding the one that best meets their goal. By adjusting factors and incorporating their experience and specific business knowledge, the manager using WhatIf? can explore alternative scenarios and compare how different options impact the forecast.
New on-line resource for competitive intelligence
Executive Resource, a Montreal competitive intelligence consulting firm, has launched Competia Online (www.competia.com). an on-line community for competitive intelligence and strategic planning professionals. Competia offers focused, practical articles that will inform readers of the latest tools, techniques and products to help them in their role as business and competitive intelligence analysts. Registered users can access news on the advancement of their profession, practical and hands-on tools and analysis techniques designed to help them increase efficiency in their work. Content will be updated each month, but readers will at all times have access to the full searchable archives. Access will be free for registered users for the first three months of the launch period.
Service tracks shoppers' Web habits
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), Chicago, and Media Metrix, Inc. have introduced e-SCAN, a new service designed to let consumer product companies track where specific brand/category buyers go on the Internet and measure their responsiveness to Internet advertising. Media Metrix collects Internet viewing behavior via its patented metering methodology. The meter collects real-time Web usage data and transmits it to Media Metrix for collection and analysis. IRI collects U.S. household purchase activity from its Shoppers' Hotline panel through its proprietary ScanKey in-home scanner. The device passively transmits its data to IRI for collection and integration with other IRI information, such as in-store promotion activity.
StatPac for Windows
StatPac Inc., Minneapolis, has released StatPac for Windows 5.0, survey software designed to help users with survey design, questionnaire creation, e-mail surveys, sample selection, data entry and editing, and analysis. The package includes the basic analytical procedures such as frequencies, multiple response, crosstabs and banners, descriptives, breakdowns, correlations and t-tests. There is also an automated open-ended response coding feature that evaluates respondents' verbatim answers and codes them into response categories with minimal help from a researcher. Batch and interactive processing are supported. All reports are created in rich text format, which makes them compatible with Microsoft Word and most other Windows software. The output includes a table of contents for indexing to long reports. Extended labeling is available for page headings, titles, variable labels and value definitions. The package also contains transformation capabilities including sorting, weighting, recoding, and computing new variables.
Syndicated study profiles on-line shoppers
Opinion Research Corporation International, Princeton, N.J. has introduced e.Tr@ck, a nationally projectable syndicated research study of on-line shoppers. Specifically, e.Tr@ck measures awareness and perceptions of on-line merchants, the products consumers shop for on-line and the attitudes of on-line shoppers. E.Tr@ck is conducted by telephone twice a year. The results are based on an ROD probability sample of approximately 2,000 adults, screened for a sample of 600-700 on-line:, shoppers. The overall results, weighted to the national population, for age, race, region and gender, have a margin of error of ±3 percent. The results of e.Tr@ck's initial wave (conducted in September) are now available.
Watch research events on the Web
ActiveGroup, LLC is now offering a service that gives clients the ability to watch live events involving marketing research on the Web. Specifically, the client may watch live video broadcast of focus groups or other types of in-depth research interviews that are actually taking place in an ActiveGroup broadcast facility. They may access the appropriate password-secured Web page from anywhere in the world that has Internet access. To date, ActiveGroup has contracted to provide broadcasting services from 17 focus group facilities in 12 major markets of the United States. Plans are to sign contracts with between 50 and 60 facilities in the United States and approximately 50 to 60 facilities in European, South American and
Pacific Rim countries by the end of 2000.
Tool evaluates tech adoption rates
Parks Associates, a Dallas research firm, has introduced a new consumer research model that provides an analytical tool to evaluate consumers' adoption of new technologies. The firm will use the model as the cornerstone of a new multi-client study called Customer Acquisition and Loyalty, which is scheduled to start in early 2000 and which will include a survey of 3,000 randomly selected U.S. households. The study will provide information on consumers' product ownership/service subscription and churn in telecommunications, Internet services, cable/DBS, home security, and other industries.
ESRI product adds maps to Web sites
ESRI, a Redlands, Calif., GIS software firm, has introduced RouteMAP Internet Map Server (IMS), which offers mapping, site locating, and routing capabilities to an organization's Web site with driving directions to any location within the continental U.S. The product is a standalone Internet Map Server application that requires no programming to create custom maps with symbols that represent a business or public sector service center. Besides adding unique symbols for locations on the map, other key features allow for finding an address, area code, city, county, or ZIP Code; displaying and printing driving directions with maps to a location: and the ability to zoom in, zoom out, pan, find the nearest location, and measure distances.
System helps with facility scheduling
COMSEC South Windsor, Conn., has issued a new version of the time scheduling system, Facility Master II for Windows. Facility Master II is designed for organizations that require a scheduling system for reserving rooms, activities, resources or appointments. Facility Master II makes reservations as easy as clicktion ing a mouse at the intersection of the time and facility, and entering the data in a popup window. The product's interface permits the entry, update and retrieval of reservation information for up to 400 facilities, including equipment, resources and services. To complement the daily and monthly views, version 4.5 adds a weekly view of the schedule. Create, delete, modify or print reservation confirmations for the week and then jump back to the daily view to manipulate up to 400 facilities. Version 4.5 also adds a stop date option to the transaction-driven multiple duplication system. Reoccurring reservations are scheduled by clicking on the days desired, selecting the frequency and then entering either the number of occurrences or a "schedule until" date.