The company, a world leader in 360-degree feedback, decided it would have to freeze its list of Beta testers and stop accepting applications, in order to fully support those it had already accepted.

"We were pleased to see how many knowledgable users were eager to participate," said CEO Esther Kohn-Bentley (website: http://www.panoramicfeedback.com). "They told us they wanted to be at the leading edge of the finest solution in multi-source feedback.

"We hear that our Beta announcement started a tremendous buzz in the HR, OD, and training communities, because they were looking for more user-friendly, flexible and customizable 360 capabilities."

Intuitive New Design
SASS was designed by veteran developer Aaron Bentley, and co-written by developers Maru Newby and Mike Lin. Their efforts were supported by client services manager Elena Albegova, who co-ordinated a survey of users of the previous interface.

The developers used today's most effective and secure technologies: Python, Ext, Kid, TurboGears and ReST, on the reliable Linux platform used by Panoramic Feedback since before it was trendy.

SASS runs on the Internet, featuring an intuitive tab interface which reduces uncertainty for the user. Many of the central functions can be controlled directly from simple chart displays. Help screens pop up instantly on request, and disappear when no longer required.

The developers' innovative use of ReST will also make it easier for Panoramic Feedback's writers to adjust the system's wording or ultimately to translate it into other languages.

"We named the interface SASS because it is truly sassy. It's smart, assertive, and strong," said Kohn-Bentley.

"Because 360-degree feedback is so powerful, touching the lives of many individuals, the system must be flexible and reliable. SASS is the ultimate intuitive interface."

Panoramic Feedback has a history of innovation. It was the first 360-degree feedback system to use the Internet, a decade ago. More recently, it became the first system to provide feedback in Chinese, Japanese and Korean. And now it will provide the most up-to-date, friendly and powerful interface available.

About Panoramic Feedback
Panoramic Feedback (http://www.panoramicfeedback.com) is a respected international provider of 360-degree feedback. As the first 360 system to go online, in 1998, it benefits from the extensive organizational development expertise of its founders. Panoramic Feedback also produces a vendor-neutral resource kit for 360-degree feedback programs that includes best practices and training guides.