Version History & Updates

Table of contents

1. About iNatSpectro Development
2. Update Process
   1. Automatic Updates
   2. What Gets Updated
3. Current Development Focus
   1. Version 3.4.1 (Latest)
   2. Upcoming Areas of Interest
4. Research Collaboration
   1. Scientific Community
   2. Data and Privacy
5. Reporting Issues
   1. User Support
   2. Common Solutions
6. Technical Insights for Scientists
   1. Analysis Methodology
   2. Parameter Significance
   3. Scientific Applications
7. Community Impact
   1. Citizen Science
   2. Scientific Research

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About iNatSpectro Development

iNatSpectro is actively developed and maintained to provide the best bioacoustic analysis experience for the iNaturalist community. This page provides information about how the extension evolves and what to expect from updates.

Update Process

Automatic Updates

• Browser Extension Stores: Updates are delivered automatically through Chrome Web Store and Firefox Add-ons
• No Manual Action Required: Your browser will update the extension automatically

What Gets Updated

• New Species Profiles: Additional taxa-specific analysis settings
• Performance Improvements: Faster rendering, better memory management
• Bug Fixes: Resolution of reported issues and edge cases
• Browser Compatibility: Support for latest browser versions
• Feature Enhancements: New analysis tools and visualization options

Current Development Focus

Version 3.4.1 (Latest)

The current release focuses on:

• Docs Reliability: Vendored Just the Docs theme to eliminate remote dependency and support offline builds
• Build Targeting: Deterministic build selection via scripts/build-target.js (Windows-safe)
• Reviewer Support: Added reviewer notes and a store submission checklist (available in the project repository)
• Documentation Alignment: Memory Bank and README updated to reflect current code and build setup

Upcoming Areas of Interest

• Additional Species Profiles: Expanding support for more taxonomic groups
• Enhanced Visualization: New color schemes and display options
• Research Integration: Tools for scientific analysis and data export

Research Collaboration

Scientific Community

iNatSpectro is designed to support scientific research and citizen science:

• Research-Grade Parameters: Based on published bioacoustic literature
• Reproducible Analysis: Consistent parameter sets for comparative studies
• Educational Value: Visual learning tools for bioacoustic principles

Data and Privacy

• Local Processing: All analysis occurs in your browser
• No Data Collection: Extension does not collect or transmit user data
• iNaturalist Integration: Only accesses observation data you can already view

Reporting Issues

User Support

If you encounter problems:

1. Check Latest Version: Ensure you have the current release
2. Browser Compatibility: Verify your browser is supported
3. Observation Requirements: Ensure the observation has audio content
4. Console Messages: Check browser console for [iNatSpectro] error messages

Common Solutions

• Refresh Page: Simple reload often resolves temporary issues
• Clear Cache: Browser cache clearing can fix persistent problems
• Audio Format: Try different observations to isolate format-specific issues
• Browser Restart: Complete browser restart resolves memory issues

Technical Insights for Scientists

Analysis Methodology

Understanding the technical approach can help interpret results:

• FFT Analysis: Fast Fourier Transform with configurable window sizes
• Species Profiles: Research-based parameter optimization per taxonomic group
• Frequency Scaling: Logarithmic, linear, and mel-scale options
• Dynamic Range: Percentile-based noise floor detection

Parameter Significance

• Resolution: Higher values show more temporal detail
• Frequency Range: Should match the species’ vocal range
• Gamma Correction: Enhances visibility of quiet sounds
• Smoothing: Reduces noise but may blur rapid changes

Scientific Applications

• Species Identification: Visual pattern recognition in spectrograms
• Habitat Monitoring: Acoustic surveys and biodiversity assessment
• Educational Research: Teaching bioacoustic principles
• Comparative Studies: Standardized analysis across observations

Community Impact

Citizen Science

iNatSpectro empowers citizen scientists to:

• Learn Sound Analysis: Visual representation of animal communication
• Improve Identifications: Spectrograms aid in species confirmation
• Contribute to Research: Higher quality observations benefit science
• Share Knowledge: Visual analysis helps educate others

Scientific Research

Researchers benefit from:

• Accessible Tools: Analysis without specialized software
• Standardized Methods: Consistent analysis parameters across studies
• Large Dataset Analysis: Efficient processing of iNaturalist’s vast audio collection
• Community Engagement: Bridge between research and public participation

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For the latest updates and version information, see the Changelog.