Media testing approach doesn’t require special players
Greenfield Online, Wilton, Conn., has launched a new media testing capability that enables clients to test video segments without requiring consumers to use or download special plug-ins or media players. The Greenfield Online application is compatible with most viewers’ browsers, and the segment downloads passively during the course of survey participation. The technology automatically detects viewers’ connection speed and streams the appropriate bit per second. As a result, all respondents view the same-quality media segment. Viewers must have a special ID to view media, which will be disabled after completion of the survey, thus preventing piracy and distribution. Segments are compressed to ensure efficient downloads no matter what size/resolution. Media can be accepted in any format.
New Web-based feedback system
Perseus Development Corporation, a Braintree, Mass., survey software firm, and Data Driven Decisions Inc. (3D Group) have developed an automated 360-degree Web-based feedback system. The system can be used for applications including performance appraisals, employee development, training needs assessments, attitude surveys, customer satisfaction surveys, etc. Human resource administrators will be able to e mail a Web link and access code to one or more feedback recipients and invite them to complete a 360-degree survey. The administrator will be able to specify the timeframe the survey is open and have the ability to upload data from separate data files into the Web database containing survey responses. They can track survey completion progress on any individual feedback recipient or group of recipients and be able to customize report format and content to fit individual company’s preferences. Reports can be designed from a library of templates and contain options to compute various statistics across multiple items and multiple raters. Once the survey is tallied, feedback reports will be generated and distributed automatically. After receiving the feedback reports, 3D Group provides consultative services to help companies interpret results and coach individual managers.
ArcReader 8.2 download now available
Redlands, Calif., GIS firm ESRI is now offering the ArcReader 8.2 standalone version for download at www.esri.com/arcreader. ArcReader is designed for viewing and sharing any published map file (PMF) authored by the ArcGIS Publisher extension to ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo. Anyone with ArcReader can now view maps that reference a variety of geographic data. The PMF preserves a live connection to the data so the user’s data view is dynamic. ArcReader is built from the same ArcObjects component technology as ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo. ArcReader shares a common look and feel with all the ArcGIS Desktop products, allowing users to view, explore, and print maps.
Nielsen//NetRatings broadens digital media coverage
New York-based Nielsen//NetRatings is expanding its service to combine measurement of Web-based traffic with Intemet applications and browser channel audience data, including measurement of AOL proprietary channels. Debuting in Q4 2002, the "digital media universe" measurement will track the use of instant messaging, media players, media sharing applications, ISP applications, wireless content systems, Web phones, news and information toolbars, connected games, weather applications, auction assistants and shopping assistants.
New source of European research reports
Dublin-based Research & Markets is a new aggregator of market research in Europe, providing research in areas such as banking and financial services, biotech, competitive and market intelligence, demographics, energy and natural resources, retailing and services, and transport and shipping. At www.researchandmarkets.com, visitors can browse industry categories or search by a specific keyword or phrase. When you have found your chosen publication, click on its title to see more information including abstracts, executive summaries, samples and indexes/tables of contents. Users can also submit a request for market research assistance and the customer service team will respond via phone, email or fax.
Doane debuts corn seed study
Doane Marketing Research, Inc., St. Louis, is now offering a syndicated product entitled U.S. Farm Corn Seed Study - 2002. Over 4,500 corn growers provided information pertaining to specific hybrids planted, associated acres, planting rates, discounts received, and net price paid per unit purchased. All data received was weighted and projected for the entire U.S. as well as for high corn acreage states.
Asia panel from TNS and Intage
Tokyo-based research firm Intage Inc. and London-based Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Plc. have launched the Asiapanel2001 Annual Report, a pan-regional continuous consumer panel offering. The report will enable companies to benchmark household and grocery purchasing across eight of Asia’s economies - Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. The Asiapanel 2001 Annual Report provides a multi-comparative annual report of the markets, broken down into five sectors (beverages, packaged groceries, dairy products, household products, personal care), 65 product categories, 11 measures (including value, penetration, etc.) in both annual and quarterly format, as well as demographics and channel breakdowns. Both companies are working closely to offer custom consumer panel data services that allow clients to drill down to manufacturer- and brand-level data and understand consumer habits through various special analysis.
Book offers Web site design guidance
Design of Sites - Patterns, principles, and processes for crafting a customer-centered Web experience, a new book by Douglas van Duyne, James Landay, and Jason Hong, is now available from Addison-Wesley. Based on investigation and analysis of more than 100 Web sites, the book distills the principles and best practices that make sites enjoyable to visit and an asset to the organizations they serve. It features numerous design patterns that offer solutions to common Web design problems.
Decision Analyst beefs up its panels
Arlington, Texas-based Decision Analyst Inc. now has 50,000 Spanish-language households participating in its international Internetbased consumer panels in Spain, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Panel membership is highest in Spain with 15,000 households, followed by Mexico with 10,000 households.
The firm also announced that its Internet-based consumer panels in Europe now number more than 100,000 households. France is the largest panel with 36,000 households, followed by Italy with 20,000 households and Spain with 15,000. The U.K. and German panels include 10,000 households each.
Track survey data over the Web
Indianapolis-based Answers & Insights Market Research is now offering MyDataFast.com, which allows researchers to access their survey data over the Intemet as it is fielded. Surveys using phone/CATI, Internet, IVR and mail can be tracked by accessing the data through user accounts on MyDataFast.com. Suppliers can update the system as quickly as every two minutes. Users can track, view and archive quantitative surveys for analysis.
Measure attendee attitudes before and after programs
New York-based brand communication firm Jack Morton Worldwide and NFO WorldGroup have launched EMetric, a new measurement tool. The Web-based product features a "before and after" survey designed to qualitatively determine the impact of programs and meetings on the attitudes of attendees. E-Metric uses the Web to pose 25 closed-ended questions and three open-ended questions to a defined audience both before and three days after the event. NFO will collect the findings and deliver baseline survey results to the client’s project team via email. Jack Morton Worldwide will then use the results to develop and deliver programs for meeting their client’s business objectives.
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Minneapolis-based Northstar Interviewing Service is offering a 10 percent discount on all new projects through the end of the year.
NOP World Health, East Hanover, N.J., has formed a new Corporate Image and Public Information Management Division focusing on helping pharmaceutical companies respond to public relations crises and develop integrated communication strategies.
Millward Brown has launched Millward Brown Automotive, a new initiative which will use Kantar’s automotive research capabilities, including those of Goldfarb Consultants, which recently merged with Millward Brown. Automotive marketers will have a single source for research throughout the product life cycle, from strategy, early ideation and new product development, to product launch and in-market performance.
Hemdon, Va.-based WebSurveyor Corporation has released WebSurveyor 4.0, a survey tool including features like true multi-page, advanced skip logic, data piping, XML support, improved reporting and exporting features, and multi-language capability.
Maritz Inc., St. Louis, has created Maritz Brand Alignment, a service designed to help companies deliver a consistent brand management strategy. Services offered include research and assessment, consultation and facilitation, learning systems, communications and events, measurement and feedback, project management and rewards and recognition programs.
Minneapolis-based data processing firm Adapt, Inc. has implemented Adapt-Key, a new data entry technology, offering flexible outputs (Quantum ASCII, column binary, fixed-field and delimited ASCII file formats), efficient handling of out-oforder columning, on-screen keying masters for data entry operators, and simplified use of look-up tables and logic patterns.
Information Resources, Inc., Chicago, is now offering InfoScan Convenience Store Account Level service, providing weekly scarmerbased sales data and causal (promotional) information for all products and categories sold in convenience stores, including salty snacks, candy, general merchandise, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and cigarettes.