Users define their own index markers by duplicating index buttons and assigning each a unique name. A single button press immediately creates an index label and links it to the corresponding timed location in the video document. These indices are used to capture the instantaneous occurrence of important events in the video. They can also be labeled to reflect ratings of behavioral data such as mood and mood changes. To capture events having durations, a special index type called an interval is used.
Users create intervals by duplicating and uniquely labeling each one.
Users may define any number of indices or intervals. Textual comments may be entered either alone or in conjunction with an index or interval. The comment window is variable length, scrollable and editable. Verbal transcriptions may be thought of as a special case of commenting and are therefore entered in a similar manner. The interface for entering annotations has been designed to reduce both perceptual and cognitive load.