Abstract: A Consumer Research Survey Management Apparatus comprising: a Survey Management Console interfaced with a Survey Participant Response Machine through which results of survey participation are collected and processed, and a method for holding surveys using the Consumer Research Survey Management Apparatus. The method comprises the steps of authoring a survey (Step I); determining whether the target population is ad-hoc or a set target (Step II); setting the survey schedule (Step III); activating the survey (Step IV); monitoring the survey in terms of its validity and integrity (Step V) monitoring participation levels (Step VI); optionally awarding incentives to survey participants (step VII); ensuring that the survey matches the research requirements in terms of population quotas (Step VIII) ensuring that the demographic profile of the survey participants matches the research requirements (Step IX); repeating at least part of the survey if necessary (Step X) and analyzing results (Step XI).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for conducting real time dialogues with an audience comprising a plurality of remote viewers of a broadcast program, said system comprising: (a) a Real Time Dialog Machine having input ports for enabling substantially simultaneous data input from each of a plurality of viewers in data communicating therewith over at least one data network; (b) a Dialogue Management Console coupled to the Real Time Dialog Machine via a data link, said Dialog Management Console for allowing management of said dialogues by program production personnel; (c) a database of interactive sessions accessible by the dialogue management console and in data communication with the Real Time Dialog Machine via a participation processor for processing aggregated data from the Real Time Dialog Machine, and (d) displaying means for adding derived data and/or visual cues to program for transmission to displays viewable by the viewers.

Abstract: A system for allowing presentation of a Group Response Event (GRE) to a group of participants: the GRE comprising at least a first question and a range of possible answers to the at least a first question; the system comprising a hosting website accessible by at least one web-browser connected to a display, the web-browser and display being viewable by at least a first group of participants at a first location, such that members of said at least a first group of participants can individually respond to said at least a first question by inputting one of said range of possible answers via personal telecommunication devices.