Further Analysis of Parcel Data Collection

The ECMM parcel will require tools to collect data that will be analyzed for both development and research purposes. Two of the tools I am considering to use in collecting statistics for the parcel are offered by Maya Realities and RabbitStats. The following information will describe each of the tools and provide details as to which proximity sensor was chosen for the ECMM parcel.

Maya Realities is a service company in SL, who began business in April 2007, focusing on analytics. For an Introduction to their services view the following slidecast.

Maya Realities Overview

View more presentations from Maya Realities. (tags: hackshaven hackathorn)

Maya Realities offers a basic proximity sensor, among other more advanced solutions, for $L1 that collects basic land parcel information including number of unique avatars visiting, total time spent on a land parcel, and average time spent per avatar. To purchase a proximity sensor or find out more about their services visit their in-world office at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jingbo/67/35/30/

RabbitStats provides statistics on the following details of an SL property:

• Identify and record names of visiting residents
• Record length of time visitors spend on property
• Record multiple visits
• Stats provided through graphs and charts
• Provides daily email listing property visitors
• Premium account provides information to be downloaded as CSV file.

RabbitStats can be accessed from their in-world store located at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tehama/104/203/24?title=Rabbit%20Glen. Pricing is separated into three account types:

1. Basic - free
2. Premium - L$5 per collector per day
3. Non-Profit/Educational - free

After reviewing the information on each of the proximity sensors provided by both Maya Realities and RabbitStats, I was unsure as to which one to use. I therefore decided to try them both and come to a conclusion based on experience with both products. I will use the free options from both products to determine if one outperforms the other. Stay tuned for results...

Update... (March 8, 2009)
When looking for the proximity sensors from both Maya Realities and RabbitStats, I was only able to find the one from RabbitStats in-world. After looking around the Maya Realities in-world office, I was unable to locate any of the free versions of the sensor. I probably could have found out more information if I would have left a message at the Maya Realities' in-world office. The proximity sensor from RabbitStats was much easier to get in-world. I went to the SLURL for RabbitStats, mentioned above, and there was a free copy of the proximity sensor to take.

Free copy of RabbitStats proximity sensor (photo taken March 1, 2009)

The instructions, provided with the free version of the RabbitStats proximity sensor, made the setup process quite easy. Setup instructions direct you to the RabbitStats.com website to setup a new account. After the account is setup you enter in the code of your specific proximity sensor and it begins collecting data. The script of your specific sensor is placed into the contents folder of an object in the area in which you want to collect data. You can set the distance in which the proximity sensor collects data. You can then go to the domain name of your RabbitStats account to edit sensor setting, add more sensors, view data, and add more users to access the account. When the sensor is up and running it can be set to email reports to identified members.