Datavyu

An introduction to video coding

Datavyu is a free, open-source software that we use to code our participant's behavioral task videos. With Datavyu, you can import participant videos directly into the program so that you can watch while you code in real time.

Datavyu

Download Datavyu here: https://datavyu.org/download.html

Before getting started, watch the Datavyu training video in the CISL Box account. This video is approximately 2 hours long.

Getting started with Datavyu:

Scripts: The easiest and most consistent way to begin coding in Datavyu is to run a script, or a predetermined template for the behaviors for which we are looking. Scripts help to name columns, name variables, and organize the data in a way that facilitates consistency across coders. Datavyu scripts are written in Ruby, an open-source programming language.

To begin, open Datavyu from the applications folder on your computer. You should see this:

This is the basic layout of Datavyu, and consists of the spreadsheet (top) and the data viewer controller (bottom). The spreadsheet is where you will do your coding - it will eventually contain your columns and point cells. The data viewer controller is how you will watch your videos.

The Data Viewer Controller consists of a play button (plays videos at 1x speed), pause button (temporarily stops video), shuttle forward/back (will accelerate or decelerate video speed by ½), jog forward/back (will reverse/move forward a few milliseconds), and a back button (will jump video back by specified amount of time).

To add video to your screen, click “add data” in the data viewer controller.

Select the file you want from Box. Your screen should now look like this:

To run a script, you must first download it onto your computer. Return to Datavyu and click the “script” tab on the upper left-hand corner of your screen.

Click ‘Script’ -> ‘Run Script’ and select the .rb file from your downloads folder that corresponds to the tasks that you intend to code. A script box will pop up on your screen and will indicate when the script has finished running.

You may close the script box once the script is complete. In your spreadsheet, you should now see several columns titled after the behaviors that will be coded within that column.

Each study is looking for different participant behaviors, so scripts will differ depending on the project to which you are assigned. Take care to ensure that you are using the proper script for your lab work.

Need more help? Ask Valerie.