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 |