20|20 Announces 'Go Anywhere' Facial Coding

Nashville, US-based 20|20 Research has launched Affdex Discovery Online, an adapted version of Affectiva's emotion insights tool, which it says will 'take facial coding literally anywhere there is a computer with a webcam and the Internet'.

Emotion measurement specialist Affectiva introduced the new Discovery tool in May, allowing users to gather 'key emotion insights' from consumers in a qualitative study. MR tech and services firm 20|20 says it has now freed the product from its ties to a physical facility, updating its process and structure to make it more adaptable, and available via either 20|20's threaded bulletin board QualBoard or its real-time webcam interviewing and online focus group platform QualMeeting. 20|20 handles all technology, training, recruiting and project support.

Jim Bryson, founder and CEO of 20|20 Research, says facial coding is 'greatly helping marketers ensure their advertising and video media are spot-on and effective before they launch campaigns', and adds: 'With the tool we're launching today, we're increasing the reach of this new technology to an ever-growing number of researchers who use online and appreciate how it can save them both time and money while delivering richer intelligence.'

Bryson says the tool will help out where researchers need respondents in multiple countries, have a tricky time frame, a tight travel budget or require live interviewing for probing and follow-up.'

Last autumn, 20|20 launched a real-time interactive tool called Virtual Intercepts, allowing researchers to gain qualitative feedback from respondents as they participate in online quant surveys. Founded in 1986 and with traditional focus group facilities in Nashville, Charlotte and Miami, the company is online at www.2020research.com .

Earlier this year, Affective signed a multi-year deal with Millward Brown, integrating Affdex into the latter's 'Link' ad copy testing services.