Portable Laboratory

Lab-in-a-Bag is a mid-range portable lab that is housed in a "carry-on" luggage case, with wheels and a telescoping handle. It is very lightweight (approximately 45 lb.) and readily fits in the trunk of a car or in an airplane overhead luggage rack. A typical configuration includes the following components:

•Compact video camera with mini-tripod
•Separate camera mount that attaches to the telescoping handle of the carrying case
•1024 x 768 pixel S-VGA scan converter to capture the test participant's computer screen; this unit has controls for position and 2x zoom
•4-input video mixer to create picture-in-a-picture composites of the images from the camera and scan converter
•Digital VTR with pop-up color LCD video monitor to display the image being recorded; off-line, video editing, e.g. for the purpose of creating a "highlights tape," can be accomplished using the video recorder and either a user-supplied VCR or a digital (i.e., computer-based) video editing system; the hardware interface and software for a computer-controlled, analog video editing system is available as an optional add-on; also available as an optional add-on is an entire turnkey digital video-editing suite
•Two 3.8-in. LCD color displays to monitor the images being obtained from the camera and scan converter
•Microphones and speakers for both the Test Participant(s) and Test Administrator; this creates an intercom with both sides being recorded to tape; there is also the capability for the Test Administrator to do a voice-over commentary to tape without this commentary being fed through to the Test Participant
•Data logging software (ObServant) is supplied for implementation on a user-supplied lap-top computer
•Machine-readable RC time code is written to tape; an interface for porting this time code from the VTR to the computer running the software is available as an optional add-on
•Universal switching power supply
•Other options and add-ons include a digital video camcorder (instead of, or in addition to, the compact camera; must be carried separately), a pan-tilt head and controls (carried separately), and a still higher resolution scan converter (carried separately)

UserWorks, Inc, 1738 Elton Rd., Suite 138, Silver Spring, MD 20903. Tel: 301-431-0500; Fax: 301-431-4834.