Knowledge Base

Via Bluetooth

Depending on your version of Windows, some steps can be different. Look at the step that is relevant for you.

The following steps have to be done on every Participant PC that has a Shimmer biosensor.

1. Click the Windows icon on the desktop and type settings.
2. Windows 10: In the Settings screen, click Devices, ensure that the Bluetooth toggle is turned on.
   Windows 11: In the Settings screen, click Bluetooth & devices, ensure that the Bluetooth toggle is turned on.
3. Windows 10: Click the icon in front of Add Bluetooth or other devices.
   Windows 11: Click Devices. The option Bluetooth devices discovery is now available. Switch this setting from Default to Advanced.
4. Click Add device.
5. Ensure that your Shimmer device is on. The device will appear in the list with the ID listed on the back of the Shimmer device.
6. Click on the device name, and in the PIN field, enter the PIN and click Connect. The Your device is ready to go message will appear. Click Done.
7. Under Bluetooth & other devices, locate the Shimmer device and check that it is paired.

Step 3: Install the Consensys System Tray App

The following steps have to be done on every Participant PC that has a Shimmer biosensor.

1. If the Consensys Tray App v1 is already installed, uninstall this first. (The installer for v2 does not upgrade the existing version, so if v1 is already installed, you will have both versions on your PC simultaneously. Thus we recommend removing the previous version.) After uninstalling v1, delete folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Shimmer\ConsensysSystemTray.
2. In the NoldusHub installation folder, open Devices - Shimmer and then unzip the zip file.
3. In the folder that appears, double-click setup.exe and follow the steps on your screen. Select the option to create a desktop shortcut.
4. Click the Consensys Tray app icon on your desktop. The corresponding icon appears in the system tray.
5. Right-click the icon, select the appropriate Shimmer device and click Start. Wait until the Streaming message appears. If this does not happen but instead you get the Connection Failed, Disconnected, or Connecting status, check our troubleshooting page.
6. Open N-Linx Agent and check to make sure the sensors are listed and Online.

Set Up Audio Sources on Participant PC

Aim

To set up the audio sources on the Participant PC so that PC audio is recorded in the screen capture video file and the audio of the microphone is recorded in the face video file.

Note

NoldusHub participant PCs do have a sound card but no internal speaker. Noldus supplies external speakers that you can plug into the sound card at the back end of the PC. Noldus supplies a webcam that includes a microphone.

Before You Begin

2 scenarios are supported:

1. A headset with microphone that has a single 3.5 mm jack (4 pins).
2. No headset, external speakers connected.

Procedure

1. Make sure NOT to use the participant PC as a test leader PC, so do not open NoldusHub from the participant PC.

On the participant PC:

2. Either insert the headset into the front of the participant PC or insert the external speakers to the sound card at the back end of the PC. If you don't use a headset, skip to step 4.
3. Go to Settings → System → Sound.
   1. Select as output: Headphones Realtek® Audio.
   2. Select as input: Jack Mic Realtek® Audio and make sure to give it enough volume (~75).
4. Unselect the Noldus Media plugin in N-Linx Agent.
5. Reselect the Noldus Media plugin in N-Linx Agent.

On the test leader PC:

6. Start NoldusHub.
7. Reselect the devices for the test station of the participant PC.
8. Open or create a project and have the correct test station selected.
9. Open the recording module with the correct test station.
10. On the participant PC, play a video from for example YouTube. Its sound should be hearable on the headset.
11. On the test leader PC, start a recording.
12. Comment on the video through the microphone of the headset or, in case of not using a headset, the microphone of the webcam. Make sure the microphone is not muted.
13. On the test leader PC, stop the recording.
14. On the test leader PC, replay the recorded session. It should display the screen capture and the face image videos. By muting either video consecutively, verify that:
    1. The screen capture video includes the audio of the participant PC (YouTube video).
    2. The face video includes the audio of the headset or webcam microphone (comments you made on the video).

Start and Activate NoldusHub

Aim

To start and activate your license so you can use NoldusHub.

Before You Begin

You should have the license key you received from Noldus on hand. This is also referred to as the software activation key.

Procedure

1. On the test leader PC or any other device in the local network, open Google Chrome.
2. Enter the subdomain value, for instance, https://noldushub.mydomain.com in the address bar of Google Chrome.
3. A window appears in which you should activate your license. Enter the license key you received from Noldus IT and click Submit.
4. The first time you start NoldusHub, log in with super-user account name Setup and the provided password, which is identical to the license key.
5. The default super-user password is unique (the license key). However, it is recommended to have the system administrator change the password during the installation procedure.
6. Create an official user with the Administrator role according to this procedure.
7. Use this Admin user account to add users with different roles.
8. After a test run of NoldusHub, do not forget unlocking used stations and removing test projects before leaving.

Notes

Get Help – Once logged in, you can get help by clicking the Help Center icon in the bottom right corner of any page.

Windows Defender Folder Exclusions

Aim

The Windows Defender is a Windows antivirus software component that provides real-time protection. It uses some of the available resources (e.g. up to 50% of CPU by default) which could interfere with the NoldusHub recordings. To avoid unwanted high resource usage, some folders can be excluded from real-time checking.

Procedure

On the server:

1. Open the folder C:\Program Files\Noldus\NoldusHub.
2. Double-click the batch file AddDefenderExclusions.bat as administrator. This adds folder exclusions for Defender Antivirus. It will reduce CPU usage as the real-time scanner will not scan some folders.

On the participant PC:

1. Locate the Scripts folder in the installation folder of NoldusHub, under the N-Linx Agent folder.
2. Double-click the batch file Add-Participant-Defender-Exclusions.bat as administrator.

Source: NoldusHub 1.7 Installation Documentation, Noldus Information Technology