MultiLog: a tool for the control and output merging of multiple logging applications

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Software Engineering
• User Experience Research

Background:

• Loggers are crucial for understanding user actions and informing interface design.
• Implementing and managing multiple loggers can be complex and time-consuming for researchers.
• Existing logging systems often lack flexibility for diverse research needs, such as longitudinal studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce MultiLog, a tool designed to streamline the control, gathering, and combination of data from multiple logging applications.
• To reduce the implementation effort required by researchers when setting up and managing logging systems.
• To increase the accessibility of logging systems for both technical and non-technical experimenters in various study designs.

Main Methods:

• MultiLog operates in two modes: 'researcher mode' for configuration and 'deployment mode' for data collection from participants.
• Researcher mode allows for logger setup, log filtering, obfuscation, real-time monitoring, and saving configurations.
• Deployment mode automates logger activation, data aggregation, and secure uploading to a web server upon user login.

Main Results:

• Performance evaluations indicate MultiLog does not negatively impact system performance, even with multiple concurrent loggers.
• Initial studies demonstrate the system's reliability over extended periods, up to 10 weeks.
• MultiLog successfully simplifies the integration and management of diverse logging applications.

Conclusions:

• MultiLog effectively reduces the burden of setting up and managing logging systems for user behavior research.
• The tool enhances the feasibility of conducting both short-term and longitudinal observation studies.
• MultiLog promotes wider adoption of logging technologies by non-technical researchers, improving data-driven design insights.