Abstract

The experimental hub is an open-source video conferencing platform designed primarily for researchers to facilitate remote experimentation. Through the use of filters, this platform enables researchers to conduct customized experiments according to their specific study requirements. These filters manipulate and/or analyze inbound audio and video streams, differentiating the experimental hub from standard conferencing tools. While the hub offers valuable capabilities for research, its development is ongoing. To enhance usability and functionality, key improvements have been implemented. A real-time conversational feedback filter has been integrated to provide insight into participants' speech duration. Furthermore, the structure of filter initialization has been made more flexible and dynamic, facilitating the integration of new filters for developers. This flexibility provides researchers with a broader range of options for fine-tuning filters to their research needs. In pursuit of a user-centered approach, a comprehensive usability user study was conducted. This study provided invaluable insight into the user experience, offering numerous suggestions and qualitative data. Results from this study have been used to improve the experimental hub and ensure that it continues to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing needs of researchers.

Results/Implementation/Project Description

Conclusion

[ PDF (optional) ] 

[ Slides Kickoff/Final (optional)]