NVivo Updated to Work with Audio and Visual Files

In Australia, qualitative research software developer QSR International has updated its NVivo product to include new audio and visual capabilities.

NVivo 8 has been introduced after more than two years' research and development, and was subjected to intensive beta testing among researchers in academic, government and commercial fields prior to the launch.

CEO John Owen says that the update allows researchers to choose to work with or without a transcript or create their own in the software. 'Clients can now manage, shape and analyze virtually any type of unstructured material - from media clips and music to pdf documents and photos, side by side. They can even share their findings and files via new mini-websites with others who don't have the software,' he explained.

NVivo was first launched in 1999. Since then, it has undergone two overhauls resulting in NVivo 2 (2002) and NVivo 7 (2006). Last year, the firm launched a Japanese version of the product (www.mrweb.com/drno/news6598.htm ).

Owen clarified that NVivo 8 integrates existing tools with new materials and features, meaning users won't need to re-learn the application. He said the software would still have the same familiar Windows XP interface as NVivo 7, but for the first time would offer researchers the ability to:

• Import, sort and analyze audio files, videos and pictures in the same way as documents
• View or listen to their video and audio clips via an inbuilt media player and vary the playback speed, rewind or skip sections - as with a normal video player
• Merge separate projects and still identify which coding was completed by which person
• Create and export charts
• Share findings with clients or colleagues with non-users using HTML.

QSR International is headquartered in Victoria, Australia, with additional offices in North America and Europe. The firm is online at www.qsrinternational.com .