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Table 5 These are the desired features elicited from the different user studies, linked to the priorities and barriers they relate to from the Dial-a-Molecule surveys

From: Electronic lab notebooks: can they replace paper?

Category

Desired Features

Priorities (DaM)/Addressing Barriers

Recording notes

Simple to install

Personalisable

Post-it notes

TODO lists

Create default values

Easy to write in as a paper notebook

Facilitate different experiments

Range of experiment templates

55.6%—Saving time over the paper notebook process is important

Barrier: Ease of use (3.2)

Organising notes

Indexable/highlightable

Contents table/overview screen/timeline

Spellchecker

Tag/classify notes and experiments

Store metadata

Use of standard vocabularies (ontologies/measurement techniques)

80.2%—Improved quality of record keeping is important

Searching

Keyword/filtered search

Data traceability

Advanced searches by chemical structure

Include reactions schemes in search results

Voice searches

Sortable results

90.6%—Improved ability to search and re-use documented information is important

Linking data

Upload/link files, images and data files to notes

Link between different notebooks

Link to reference managers

Dropbox-esque features (automatic data update)

Automatically link to external chemistry resources

73.6%—Improve access to data as linked data through ELN is important

Barriers: Data Compatibility and Portability (3.6)

Writing reports

‘Generate Report’ button to generate a publication ready report

Integrate and store different types of documents (Excel, Word, PDF, Pictures, Handwritten notes)

Copy sketches into notebook

Paper notebooks integration

Digital pen integration

Migration tools

Export functionality

Barrier: software and system integration and compatibility (3.5)

Performing calculations and scientific functionality

Perform calculations, formulas and equations as easily as paper

Create sketches and diagrams

Recognise a chemical when entered

Risk Assessment Templates/view electronically

Flags for dangerous chemicals

Index of COSHH materials

Global database of chemical values

Notifications for approvals

Sign off entries to make them non editable

60.4%—Easy inclusion of safety data is important

Use of Technology in the Lab (accessibility)

Web Based/Platform Independent

Tablet/Smartphone Compliant

Text recognition, drawing and photo capabilities Usable in the lab like a paper notebook

Voice capture

Built in language for extensibility

79.3%—Access to notebook from more locations is important

Barrier: Access (3.4)

Archiving and backup

Secure storage, backup and archives

Downloads/printing

87.8%—Secure automatic backup of data is important

Intellectual property

Secure access

Different access levels for users

37.8%—Better protection of IP is important

Collaboration

Shared files/notebooks

Standard list of instruments and reagents

Link related people and notebooks

Coordination for Open Source and Access

Sign up and ‘get involved’ pages

Configurable stand-alone to act as portals for projects and landing pages for collaborators

Enable users to find out who is working on similar molecules of reactions (requires inbuilt understanding of molecules)

63.2%—Better ability to collaborate and share information is important

Project activities

Recent activity feed with notifications

Page statistics

Bulletin boards

Moderate comments

64.1%—Improved group/project management is important