Device detection variables

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The Lucid Marketplace can automatically detect certain environmental characteristics of a respondent's session including the browser, browser version, device type, operating system and more. In order to access this information, these qualifications must be added to the Marketplace screener (while the Lucid Marketplace does detect this information in real-time, it is not provided by default).

Uses for device detection variables

There are four primary uses for the device detection variables.

1. Qualifying respondents

Add the device detection variables as qualifications to your survey, and then set the appropriate conditions to ensure that respondents match the desired profile.

The most frequently used are "MS_is_mobile" and "MS_is_tablet". Best practices for targeting with these qualifications is as follows:

Desktop/laptop users only: MS_is_mobile qualification, condition = false

  • Both cell phone and tablet users: MS_is_mobile qualification, condition = true

  • Cell phone users only (no tablets): MS_is_mobile qualification with condition = true and MS_is_tablet qualification with condition = false

  • Tablet users only: MS_is_tablet qualification, condition = true

  • Tablet and desktop/laptop users (no cell phones):

    • Add MS_is_mobile and MS_is_tablet qualifications, without setting conditions

    • Add a quota with 2 conditions: MS_is_mobile = true, MS_is_tablet = false

    • Set that quota to 0

2. Placing quotas on respondents

For example, you only want 25% desktop users on your study. You can include the MS_is_mobile detection qualification (without setting a condition), and set a quota for 25%.

3. Monitoring respondents

If device detection qualifications are added to the survey, you can download the respondent answer report to see device information for each respondent.

4. Sending device data to the client survey

Device detection variables can be appended to the Client Survey URL just as other qualifications can.

Dynamic nature of variable conditions

We keep our detection capabilities updated regularly. You can use the device qualifications below to screen for any of the associated conditions.

However, please be careful with setting specific conditions, as the conditions must meet an exact format. We recommend testing a survey (testing a study) carefully with qualifying devices when targeting with these qualifications.

  • Browser type: MS_browser_type_Non_Wurfl

  • Browser version: MS_browser_version

  • Operating system: MS_os_type_Non_Wurfl

  • Non-mobile device name: MS_device_type_Non_Wurfl

  • Mobile device os: MS_device_os

  • Operating system version: MS_device_os_version

  • Flash support: MS_full_flash_support

  • Mobile: MS_is_mobile

  • Tablet: MS_is_tablet

  • Model: MS_model_nameBrand: MS_brand_name

List of variables & current possible conditions

MS_is_mobile

  • Optimal qualification condition boolean operators: Or

  • This variable captures whether the device is a mobile or not. This includes tablets.

  • true: the device is a mobile (including tablets)

  • false: the device is not a mobile

MS_is_tablet

  • Optimal qualification condition boolean operators: Or

  • This variable captures whether the device is a table or not.

  • true: the device is a tablet

  • false: the device is not a tablet

MS_model_name

  • Optimal qualification condition boolean operators: Or, Is Not

MS_brand_name

  • Optimal qualification condition boolean operators: Or, Is Not

MS_device_type_Non_Wurfl

  • Optimal qualification condition boolean operators: Or, Is Not

MS_browser_type_Non_Wurfl

  • Optimal qualification condition boolean operators: Or, Is Not

  • Types of browsers used by users:

    • Avant

    • BlackBerry

    • Chrome

    • Firefox

    • IE

    • IEMobile

    • InternetExplorer

    • Maxthon

    • Mozilla

    • Netscape

    • Opera

    • Safari

    • Unknown

MS_os_type_Non_Wurfl

  • Optimal qualification condition boolean operators: Or, Is Not

  • The different os types currently on the list are:

    • Linux

    • MacOS

    • OS/2

    • Unknown

    • Windows

    • Windows2000

    • Windows7

    • Windows8

    • Windows98

    • WindowsME

    • WindowsNT4.0

    • WindowsNT4.10

    • WindowsNT6.3

    • WindowsServer2003

    • WindowsVista

    • WindowsXP

MS_full_flash_support

  • Optimal qualification condition boolean operators: Or

  • This variable captures whether Flash is supported or not.

  • true: flash is supported

  • false: flash is not supported

Testing and device detection

Whether or not a device detection variable is added as a qualification to a survey, the related respondent values will appear on a system page for test sessions only.

Summary of survey responses including browser and device information for a user.