A System for Collecting Data on Observer Preferences in the Field Using Personal Data Assistants

Abstract

Field tests to compare camouflage patterns rely on collecting data on the preferences of human observers. The director of such tests has been faced with a choice between using pencil-and-paper ballots or using an expensive data collection system based on push buttons wired to personal computers with custom software. In this paper we describe an alternative system that combines the advantages of digital collection with the simplicity of paper ballots. The key ingredients to the system a personal data assistants (PDA' s) and database software that runs on a PDA. Specifically, our system makes use of Palm Pilots and the commercial database program think DB. Using a stylus, each observer enters his selection of the better camouflage pattern by pushing a radio button on the screen of his Palm Pilot. At the end of the test, the test director uses the Palm HotSync function to transfer the results to a personal computer for analysis.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 22, 2003
Accession Number
ADA459008

Entities

People

  • Jim Crile
  • John G. Bennett

Organizations

  • Tank-automotive and Armaments Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Camouflage
  • Computers
  • Data Reduction
  • Database Management Systems
  • Databases
  • Digital Information
  • Field Tests
  • Foreign Intelligence
  • Information Operations
  • Observers
  • Operating Systems
  • Operations Security
  • Personal Computers
  • Push Buttons
  • Security
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.