The PocketBee running on a Motorola Milestone

PocketBee is a multi-modal diary tool that allows researchers to remotely collect rich and in-depth data in the field. Based on the Android smart-phone platform, we especially focused on an easy to use user interface. In our ongoing cooperation project with the Customer Research Center, Daimler AG we explore how such a diary tool can enhance research studies in the automotive sector, especially in situations, where participants are given cars and it is impossible for a researcher to be on site all the time.

Some notes about the underlying concept: Core questions serve as cognitive triggers for pre-defined events. Multiple modalities allow participants to compose notes in the most appropriate and convenient way. Instant network synchronization allows researchers to view and analyze the data on-the-fly while also being able to create new tasks or questionnaires during an ongoing study. These can also be linked to certain trigger events, such as time and date. Thereby, Pocket Bee supports diary and Experience Sampling (ESM) studies. The system was developed in a user-centered design process.