ETHOGRAM 1.0 (Android or Linux Shell Script)
I am a proponent of open source software, and making scientific tools and results available to the public. When collecting behavioral data in the field, one of my biggest frustrations was the lack of newer tools and programs available to researchers, and being constrained to antiquated (and overpriced) hardware such as PSIONS or Palm Pilots. With the help of a former field assistant, Matt Ziegler, I wrote a simple program called ETHOGRAM. For behavioral researchers who have a coded ethogram, it allows you to type in you behavioral data (or any other text) and will create a .csv file that consists of a date and time stamp in one column and your input in the other. ETHOGRAM runs in the terminal window of any Linux based OS. This means that all you need to do is install a terminal emulator from the Google Play store (for Android OS) , install this simple shell script on your sd card drive of your android device, execute the code, and you can start collecting behavioral data.
This software is currently the primary data collection program for the Lomas Barbudal Monkey Project.
I collect my data on Google Nexus 7 tablets in either an Otterbox or Seido case for protection in the elements. I use this terminal emulator in an Android OS. I also recommend getting a keyboard that suits your needs such as SwiftKey or BigButtons Keyboard. Download a few and see what works for you.
You can download ETHOGRAM V 1.0 here.
Here is a text file with instructions of how to run ETHOGRAM.
Using a tablet in the field also equips researchers with a library of field guides, voice reorder, and small camera to take pictures relevant to the research. I use a suite of other apps to assist in data collection. You can also back data up to other tablets lest you fall off a cliff or into a river (which happens more than you would think...)