Software Replay Tools for Time-based Social Science Data
French, A., Greenhalgh, C., Crabtree, A. , Wright, M., Brundell, P., Hampshire, A., and Rodden, T.
School of Computer Science & IT, University of Nottingham,
Jubilee Campus, Nottingham, NG8 1BB, UK.
Email address of corresponding author: apf@cs.nott.ac.uk
This paper presents the motivation, development, example use and future plans for our software tool which permits the replay, synchronization and annotation of heterogeneous time-based social science data sets. This `Replaytool' is accompanied by a data management and visualization tool to make the process of compiling and playing back data sets easier for the user. The design and development of this tool has taken place as part of the National Centre for e-Social Science's DReSS node at the University of Nottingham.
Replaytool allows the user to synchronize and playback log files, multiple videos, spatial data etc., using a flexible system of `viewers' which can be extended for new data types. Free-text annotations can be added during playback. These are stored in a relational database or an accompanying text file.
Current development is focusing on migrating to a Resource Description Framework-based database to allow greater flexibility in the annotation system, the recording of media and project meta-data, and support for the development and application of coding schemes. The new system will use a client-server web service approach, with partial replication at the client(s), supporting both a central (workgroup) store of data and media files and also local copies for offline working.
