Computerized processing of pictorial responses in evaluations

Abstract

A system and methods for computerized processing of evaluations containing responses in a pictorial from are disclosed. The system is suitable for interpreting and displaying contextualized responses in evaluations, such as knowledge assessments and surveys. The system includes a collection terminal for obtaining evaluation response data and a processing terminal with memory storing an evaluation template containing processing rules. The processing method locates areas of interest containing pictorial responses and carries out analysis of each area, which includes locating the area within the obtained data, identifying type of the response within the area, and determining value of a response within the area by applying a processing method corresponding to the type of the response. Then the response is recorded in a database and is available for display in a context of an evaluation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for data collection for respondent evaluations, the system comprising:
 a first layer comprising a response area, wherein the response area corresponds to an area of interest where a user performs actions to enter a respondent marking;   a second layer comprising the respondent marking within the response area;   a third layer comprising metadata for a question; and   a fourth layer comprising evaluation data corresponding with the metadata for the questions and the respondent marking within the response area.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the respondent marking is presented in a first stroke. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the metadata for the question is presented in a second stroke, wherein the first stroke and the second stroke are different strokes. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an image overlay comprising the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer, wherein the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer are aligned within the image overlay.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein content associated with the image overlay is based on a response type for the question, wherein formatting of the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer is based on the response type. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer is entered by a first user and the third layer is entered by a second user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer is entered by a first user and the fourth layer is entered by a second user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer is entered by a first user and the fourth layer is entered by a first user. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation data includes a value based on a number of segments from the respondent marking that correspond with the metadata for the question. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the third layer includes marking patterns within the area of interest. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth layer includes a value based on multiple respondent markings within the evaluation 
     
     
         12 . A method for data collection for respondent evaluations, the system comprising:
 receiving a first layer comprising a response area, wherein the response area corresponds to an area of interest where a user performs actions to enter a respondent marking;   receiving a second layer comprising the respondent marking within the response area;   receiving a third layer comprising metadata for a question; and   determining a fourth layer comprising evaluation data, wherein the evaluation data corresponds with the metadata for the questions and the respondent marking within the response area.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 presenting the respondent marking in a first stroke.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 presenting the metadata for the question in a second stroke, wherein the first stroke and the second stroke are different strokes.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 aligning the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer are aligned within an image overlay;   creating the image overlay comprising alignment of the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein content associated with the image overlay is based on a response type for the question, and
 formatting of the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer is based on the response type.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving the second layer from a first user; and   receiving the third layer from a second user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving the second layer from a first user; and   receiving the fourth layer from a second user.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving the second layer from a first user; and   receiving the fourth layer from a first user.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the evaluation data includes a value based on a number of segments from the respondent marking that correspond with the metadata for the question. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the third layer includes marking patterns within the area of interest. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fourth layer includes a value based on multiple respondent markings within the evaluation 
     
     
         23 . A method for data collection for respondent evaluations, the system comprising:
 receiving a first layer comprising a response area, wherein the response area corresponds to an area of interest where a user performs actions to enter a respondent marking;   receiving a second layer comprising the respondent marking within the response area, wherein the first layer is received from a first user;   presenting the second layer in a first stroke;   receiving a third layer comprising metadata for a question, wherein the second layer is received from a second user;   presenting the third layer in a second stroke, the first stroke being different from the first stroke;   determining a fourth layer comprising evaluation data, wherein the evaluation data corresponds with the metadata to the question and the respondent marking within the response area;   aligning the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer within an image overlay;   creating the image overlay comprising alignment of the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer, wherein content associated with the image overlay is based on a response type for the question;   formatting the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer based on the response type, wherein the evaluation data includes a value based on a number of segments from the respondent marking that correspond with the metadata for the question.