From observation to insight
Across research, education, and product development, labs need tools to capture and understand human behavior with precision. This blog shows how combining Viso and The Observer XT empowers teams to gain richer insights and make data-driven decisions.
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Published on
Tue 06 May. 2025
Topics
| Behavioral Research | The Observer XT | Video Observation | Viso | Labs |

In behavioral research, two things are essential: capturing what really happens and making sense of it. That means having the ability to record behavior accurately and analyze it meaningfully.
How labs combine Viso and The Observer XT for smarter behavioral research
To do this, many labs rely on a video capture system that records high-quality footage from multiple angles, even across several rooms or observation setups. These systems are designed to be unobtrusive, so participants behave naturally—whether they’re children at play, students in a classroom, or patients in a therapy session. One such solution is Viso, which gives researchers full control over recordings, camera angles, and session management in real time.
But capturing the footage is only part of the story.
Once the video is recorded, researchers need a way to code behaviors, track events, and analyze patterns over time. That’s where a behavioral coding and analysis platform comes in. Tools like The Observer XT let researchers annotate behaviors, synchronize video with other data sources—like eye tracking, physiological responses, or facial expressions—and visualize trends. It’s a powerful way to turn complex behavior into clear, actionable data.
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Streamlined research, deeper analysis
When combined, these tools create a synchronized workflow: you can control recordings directly from your analysis environment, instantly align all data streams, and focus on drawing insights—without wasting time on technical setup or file syncing.
Real-world applications: How labs are using the combo
Learning through play at the Fisher-Price Play Lab
Designing toys that are fun, safe, and support child development is both an art and a science. At the Fisher-Price Play Lab in East Aurora, NY, researchers observe how young children interact with toys to make sure every product meets those goals.
To do this, they use Viso to unobtrusively record natural play sessions. The footage reveals how children engage, explore, and problem-solve with different toy designs. Using The Observer XT, the team then codes these behaviors—tracking everything from motor skills and attention span to social interaction and emotional response.
As Dr. Corinne Eggleston shares,
“It’s very important to us to be able to measure behavior and to really feel confident in the decision that we're making when it comes to creating toys for young children.”
This research-backed approach helps Fisher-Price design toys that are not only entertaining but also promote learning and development—ensuring every product has a purpose beyond play.
Business meets behavior at Hofstra University
At Hofstra University’s Behavioral Research in Business Laboratory, data-driven insights are the foundation for smarter marketing, branding, and business strategies. This state-of-the-art facility is built to explore how people think, react, and decide.
Equipped with multiple observation and behavioral rooms, the lab uses Viso to capture multi-camera video and audio during live studies. Participants engage in product testing, make financial decisions, or respond to ads—while every moment is recorded without disrupting the natural flow.
Then, with The Observer XT, researchers dive into the footage, coding behaviors and identifying patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed.
This analysis reveals not just what people do, but why they do it—translating raw behavior into usable business intelligence.
As Dr. Anil Mathur, the lab’s director, puts it:
“We designed this lab for the future—with tools that let us observe, measure, and truly understand human behavior in a business context.”
Different labs, shared success
From children discovering the world through play, to consumers navigating choices—behavioral insights power progress across every field. The labs at Fisher-Price and Hofstra University may focus on different subjects, but they share a common foundation: a need for accurate observation and meaningful analysis.
Why integrate Viso and The Observer XT?
By combining Viso and The Observer XT, these teams turn everyday interactions into rich, structured data that drives smarter design, more effective strategies, and deeper understanding. Whether you’re developing a product or refining business decisions, this integrated approach helps you capture what matters—and act on it with confidence.
Here’s what the integration makes possible:
🖼️A full picture, not just pieces
Video alone can tell a story, but when paired with behavioral data, that story becomes crystal clear. With this setup, you don’t just see what happened—you understand why it matters. Capture behavior from multiple angles, add audio, sync physiological or biometric data, and get a truly comprehensive view of human interaction.
📊Confidence in your data
You can’t afford to miss a key moment or wonder if two data sources align. By controlling video directly from your analysis software, every recorded second is automatically synced to your coding and observations. That means more reliable insights, fewer errors, and results you can defend with confidence—whether you’re publishing, presenting, or making decisions that affect real lives.
🔧Adaptable for any lab
Whether you’re in education, healthcare, psychology, business, or product testing, this setup adapts to your needs. Use it for a single room or a multi-site setup. Analyze micro-behaviors in therapy sessions or reactions in a usability test. However you work, it helps you do it better—with less friction and more focus.
Say goodbye to juggling tools, manually aligning video files, or double-checking timestamps. This integration removes the repetitive, frustrating parts of your workflow, so you can spend more time thinking, interpreting, and making progress—not fixing tech.
FREE WHITE PAPER: How does AV recording tool Viso work?
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Integrating Viso and The Observer XT transforms the way behavioral research is conducted, providing a robust framework for capturing and analyzing complex behaviors.
How could this integrated approach enhance your research?
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