Data collected in tools that use web browsers offer the advantage of not having to deploy software on client computers.  However, data is limited to entering standard types such as text, check boxes, and optional answers.  It is not as interactive as an installed windows application.  Collecting data in a browser is a good solution when each person will fill out each survey a single time at their own computer and everyone is connected to the same intranet or internet.

Windows Applications offer more robust interfaces and capabilities at the expense of requiring installed software.  This is ideal whenever data will be collected multiple times on the same computer.  Windows applications are better for disconnected data collection.  Another benefit of Windows Applications is that they can be configured to collect data from devices connected to the computer.

Beware of browser based data collection tools that run disconnected from the Internet.  This is done by installing a web server on the client computer.  This has all of the downsides of both browser and windows data collection with none of the benefits of either.

Survey System is a Windows Application installed directly on the Tablet PC or other Windows Computer.

The ability of a tool to layout a form for your use case is essential. 

For example, a Survey Type Layout is ideal when the person providing the answers (not filling in the survey) will be doing so very few times.  The reason is that the prompts are clear and concise and will allow data to be entered without having to guess at what is being asked.

Examples include:

1. Providing answers about oneself
2. Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) or (CATI) where each question is read to a subject.

A Survey layout is not ideal when someone is collecting the exact same  data many times a day and does not need to read the question prompts to another individual.  In these cases, a more traditional form layout is ideal since even though the user will need to be trained as to how to fill out the form, over time, more information being on fewer pages will reduce paging which can reduce data entry time.

Survey System collects data in a Survey / Questionnaire Format.

Collecting data on a Tablet PC allows:

• Efficient data collection in the field
• Removing barriers between interviewer and interviewee for CAPI

Beware of data collection tools that "run on" the Tablet PC.  A Tablet PC is equivalent to a Laptop that can be written on with a stylus.  Any data collection tool CAN run on a Tablet PC.  The question is, "Can it collect data efficiently?" 

See Tablet PC Data Collection for more information.

When Microsoft created the Tablet PC, they included some sample applications.  One was simulated paper.  The idea was, "Why not have the screen appear to be a sheet of paper that people just write on like any other sheet of paper?"

Since that time, several companies have created such applications.  We are not one of them.

Instead, we decided to take a more scientific approach.  That was to identify the capabilities of a Tablet PC and then apply those capabilities to the task of data collection.  While simulated paper was one of our thoughts, we quickly threw it out.  The reason is that the point of using a computer is to improve the current data collection process and not to simulate it.

Please contrast our application to a simulated paper application to see the improvement in efficiency we provide on a Tablet PC.

Survey System provides very efficient data collection on a Tablet PC.  Survey System is ideal for Computer Assisted Self Interviewing and Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing. 

Survey System is a strong data collection tool without its intense support for the Tablet PC.   But while Survey System is comparable to quality CAPI tools when collecting data on a Desktop or Laptop computer, it becomes far superior when collecting data on a Tablet PC.

See Tablet PC Data Collection.