Vision Critical Plans Year of Product Launches

Canadian-based custom panel and technology firm Vision Critical plans to double its investment in technology this year with the launch of five new products, and says it will be hiring another 55 product-based employees to support the move.

The products will be rolled out consecutively over the next four months. The first, IdeaScreenPlus, will launch in April, to provide clients with a continuous approach to testing early stage product ideas. This will be followed by ShelfsetPlus, designed to enable clients to test products, packages and shopper marketing in virtual retail and restaurant environments.ched to test the emotional reactions of consumers during video presentations of ads, TV pilots and movie trailers.

In June, the company will unveil Firefly Surveys, an ad hoc web-based survey tool; and in July, SatisfactionPlus will be introduced as an all-in-one measurement tool that combines data collection with interaction and reporting.

'While others are retrenching and reducing R&D spending, we are doubling our technology investment and releasing more products and features this year than any other time in our history,' stated President of Product Innovation Jason Smith. 'All products have been designed to leverage customer-centric community panels or market-based national panels, to provide clients with a full spectrum of options.'

Web site: www.visioncritical.com .