JWatcher-event recorder and behavioral analysis program

描述(申请人提供)：量化行为是许多学科的一个基本问题，也是从行为生态学和行为学到发育心理生物学和神经生理学到兽医的各种理论问题的一个基本问题。研究人员经常使用名为“事件记录器”的计算机程序来帮助对行为进行定量研究。现有的程序只能在一种类型的计算机上运行(即，它们只能在DOS、Windows或Macintosh操作系统上运行)，通常存在干扰理解行为结构的限制，而且每个副本可能需要数千美元。我们已经开发了一个用Java TM计算机语言编写的事件记录器和数据分析程序的工作原型，它可以在任何现代微型计算机上运行。我们已经包括了新的算法，允许用户对行为进行一次评分，并多次分析结果数据记录，以获得对行为结构的更深层次的理解。该原型被设计成与现有的电子表格和图形程序协同工作。我们的目标是通过以下方式完成开发：更新它，使其可以在未来的Java操作系统(Java 2)上运行；添加组合结果文件和测量观察者可靠性的功能；添加顺序分析算法；添加图形输出，以便用户不必使用其他程序来可视化行为；为Palm操作系统PDA开发集成的事件记录器，以便用户能够在现场条件下对行为进行评分并使用JWatcher进行分析。我们免费向研究社区分发JWatcher，并打算继续这样做。我们的目标是为生物医学社区提供一个强大的研究和教学工具，促进行为研究，而不需要在商业软件上花费稀缺的研究资金。虽然我们将继续免费分发该软件，但将通过销售详细的用户手册来支持持续的支持和例行更新，其中将包括适合教学的实验室练习。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Quantifying behavior is a fundamental problem in many academic disciplines and for a variety of theoretical problems ranging from behavioral ecology and ethology through developmental psychobiology and neurophysiology to veterinary medicine. Researchers often use computer programs called 'event recorders' to assist in the quantitative study of behavior. Existing programs only run on one type of computer (i.e., they only work in DOS, Windows or Macintosh operating systems), typically have constraints that interfere with understanding the structure of behavior, and may cost thousands of dollars per copy. We have developed a working prototype of an event recorder and data analysis program written in the Java TM computer language that operates on any modern microcomputer. We have included novel algorithms that permit users to score behavior once and analyze the resulting data record many times to obtain a deeper understanding of the structure of behavior. The prototype is designed to work in concert with existing spreadsheet and graphics programs. We aim to complete development by: updating it so that it can run on the Java operating system of the future (Java 2); adding the ability to combine results files and measure observer reliability; adding sequential analysis algorithms; adding graphical output so that users will not have to use other programs to visualize behavior; developing an integrated event-recorder for Palm operating system PDAs so that users will be able to score behavior under field conditions and analyze it using JWatcher. We distribute JWatcher without charge to the research community and intend to continue doing so. Our goal is to provide a powerful tool for research and teaching for the biomedical community that facilitates the study of behavior without spending scarce research funds on commercial software. While we will continue to freely-distribute the software, on-going support and routine updates will be supported by the sales of a detailed users manual, which will include laboratory exercises suitable for teaching.