DirectRT / MediaLab Online FAQ

[I]Update by Adminstrator, October 29, 2010:[/I]
[I]Re: Online Functionality[/I]

[I]We’ve been working on this for a few years now and have run into a wall or two. For now, we are saying “no” -- that we are no longer planning on having “online” functionality any time soon. At least that’s our “on the record” answer. On the other hand, if we overcome the few remaining issues we may have this functionality in the software next year. For now, we are recommending though that users consider MediaLab and DirectRT to be software primarily used within the lab. Our apologies to those who have been so patient in waiting to test out this functionality. [/I]

[I]I'm going to be closing this thread to further posts for now but will re-open it in the case that we find solutions to the outstanding issues we are facing.[/I]

[I]Blair[/I]


-------------------------------------

Online functionality will not immediately be available within the release of our 2010 lineup; however users with a 2010 license will be able to upgrade to a version that does include this feature once we've finished beta testing its components. This system will become available within a public beta this Summer; however we are optionally allowing for users to try out the system within a private beta upon request.

Within this thread you will be able to find information regarding our online system as more details becomes available. If you have any questions regarding these components, please ask them here and we will do our best to respond.

In the posts below you will be able to find our current list of the system's most frequently asked questions. Once the system reaches a public beta, an official help manual will be available to provide further information on this new functionality.

[I][edited from support email][/I]

How exactly does the system work?

Once you're satisfied with your experiment and are ready to begin the data collection process, you will be able to launch our 'Online Management' tool from within both DirectRT and MediaLab. From here, the application will allow for your experiment to be uploaded via FTP to either our servers or your own. Once your experiment has been hosted online, you will be able to begin sending out invites through email to the subject's of your choice. If you want a wide range of subject's to access your study, but you do not know each of their emails, you will optionally be able to provide your user's with a web URL that they can use to participate in your study with.

[I][edited from support email][/I]

Will my experiments be delivered through a web browser?

No. In order to run your experiment the user will need to install our online media player to their machine and launch a file that you send to them through email or a specified web URL.

From here, your experiment will run and look exactly the same on the subject's machine as it would if the subject was seated in your lab. Nothing changes. Within our 2010 version of this system, we've chosen against delivering the experiment directly through a web browser, as we want to make sure that the software still has complete control over the subject's machine as they are participating in the data collection process.
With this interface, we plan to eliminate a large margin of possible compatibility and usability errors from taking place.

[I][edited from support email][/I]

Ok. So what operating systems are compatible with this system?

All subjects will be able to join your study from any machine in the world as long as they have both an Internet connection and Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (running on a PC or Intel based Mac).

[I][edited from support email][/I]

Is the online system backwards compatible with my older experiments?

Yes. Our 2010 versions of both DirectRT and MediaLab have been designed to be completely backwards compatible; therefore, all of your experiments will be compatible with the online system as long as you have a 2010 license for either DirectRT or MediaLab. Experiments that use both MediaLab and DirectRT will require 2010 licenses for both applications before they will have the ability to be hosted online.

We greatly value the ability for an application to always be completely backwards compatible. We strive to always build our newest versions around a solid core/identity that completely integrates itself with our previous versions.

[I][edited from support email][/I]

Will we be able to use our own FTP to host our experiment? How much space will we have?

Yes, you will be able to use your own FTP if desired; however Empirisoft's server will still be used to relay information and maintain the study while it is hosted online. When a subject connects to your experiment and begins the data collection process, they will be sending information to both Empirisoft's servers as well as your own. The experiment and the data it produces will be able to be stored on your own FTP (if specified, backups of your data will be able to be stored on Empirisoft's FTP). Basically, our server will act as a tool to manage the inner-components of your study, while your own FTP can potentially act as a place to hold the study and its collected data.

We are currently working out the inner-details for space allocation on our own servers; however at this time it is estimated that upon request, user's will be given space depending on the license(s) they hold and the total size of their experiment. We will be as flexible as possible to make sure your experiment is hosted and the data collection process goes smoothly.

[I][edited from support email][/I]

How will the generated data be accessed?

As of now you will be able to access all collected data through the 'Online Management' control panel from within either DirectRT or MediaLab. The system will take all collected data stored on the experiment's FTP and allow for its contents to be easily parsed and accessed.

You will also be able to optionally allow for data to be sent directly to your email address upon the subject's completion of your experiment.

[I][edited from support email][/I]

Once my experiment is online, what would the process be for updating the study?

Updating the study will require that a new version of the study is uploaded. It is recommended that your study is completely ready to administer before uploading it to the online system.

If we Choose our own server to host the study, what server-side languages are needed to run the study correctly? php, asp, mySQL etc...? or any other requirements needed?

Mike

Which image and video formats will the 2010 version of Media Lab and Direct RT support? Jpg, gif etc...

In order to simplify the system as much as possible, only an FTP connection is needed - you will not be required to install any server-side languages.

Files stored on the FTP account are encrypted with a cryptographic signature that can only be decrypted with values specific to the machine that began hosting the experiment and the license information used for that copy of the software.

If using your own FTP, additional security information will be provided once the service is released to ensure that the creator of the experiment is the only one viewing the data it outputs.

The following image formats are usable within both MediaLab and DirectRT:
".bmp"; ".png"; ".jpg"; ".gif"; ".tga"

In regards to video files --
If it runs in Windows Media Player, it should work with either program.

how much server space will be required other than the experiment folder to host the studies with the online medialab/direct rt?

thanks,

Mike

Will the program auto-assign participant numbers to each participant? Or will each participant will have to have a participant number and enter it on the website?

Also, will it auto assign and randomize conditions automatically? Or will each participant have to enter their information upon participation.

Also, if online Medialab/direct RT auto assigns information will there be a section when building the study where we can specify the type of randomization and participant number ranges etc…?

thanks,
Mike Rupp

Trevor might have more to add here Michael, but the extra space required will be approximately equivalent top installing a stripped down version of either package (MediaLab or DirectRT) and some additional Windows components if the user does not already have them installed (e.g., the .NET runtime package).

As far as subject and condition IDs go, our current plan is that it will work the same as it always has with the desktop versions. e.g., see:

[URL]http://www.empirisoft.com/support/showthread.php?t=26[/URL]

Is there any updates as to when the online study functionality will be ready to start using?

Mike

We’ve been working on this for a few years now and have run into a wall or two. For now, we are saying “no” -- that we are no longer planning on having “online” functionality any time soon. At least that’s our “on the record” answer. On the other hand, if we overcome the few remaining issues we may have this functionality in the software next year. For now, we are recommending though that users consider MediaLab and DirectRT to be software primarily used within the lab. Our apologies to those who have been so patient in waiting to test out this functionality.

Blair