Holcombe:Optacon: Difference between revisions
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'''Overview of set-up''' | '''Overview of set-up''' | ||
Tower+Monitor uses “Optacon Stimulator” software to provide input to Optacon Interface (the rectangular box with the TRS connectors/jacks). | *Tower+Monitor uses “Optacon Stimulator” software to provide input to Optacon Interface (the rectangular box with the TRS connectors/jacks). | ||
The Optacon Interface uses input from Opticon Stimulator to drive the optacon | *The Optacon Interface uses input from Opticon Stimulator to drive the optacon | ||
Powerlab box reads from Optacon Interface | *Powerlab box reads from Optacon Interface | ||
Response buttons are connected to the Powerlab box | *Response buttons are connected to the Powerlab box | ||
Laptop with Labchart collects the output from Powerlab box (button presses and signal from pins) | *Laptop with Labchart collects the output from Powerlab box (button presses and signal from pins) | ||
Switching on the system | '''Switching on the system''' | ||
Turn on the computers | *Turn on the computers | ||
Turn on Powerlab box (switch at back next to grey cord) | *Turn on Powerlab box (switch at back next to grey cord) | ||
Turn on Optacon Interface (switch on top of box where it says Power) | *Turn on Optacon Interface (switch on top of box where it says Power) | ||
Optacon should be the last thing you switch on | *Optacon should be the last thing you switch on | ||
Switching off the system | '''Switching off the system''' | ||
Optacon should be the first thing you switch off | *Optacon should be the first thing you switch off | ||
Then switch off the Optacon Interface + Powerlab box | *Then switch off the Optacon Interface + Powerlab box | ||
Then switch off computers | *Then switch off computers | ||
Input to Optacon interface | '''Input to Optacon interface''' | ||
The tower+monitor provides input to the optacon interface | *The tower+monitor provides input to the optacon interface | ||
Open Optacon Stimulator | *Open Optacon Stimulator | ||
Create New or Open | *Create New or Open | ||
Uses .txt files – can make these in excel etc. | *Uses .txt files – can make these in excel etc. | ||
Array (frames) is the input | *Array (frames) is the input | ||
Dwell time – how long it stays on that frame | *Dwell time – how long it stays on that frame | ||
Pins have fixed vibration rate | *Pins have fixed vibration rate | ||
** Single protraction/retraction is 4.35ms for ~230Hz vibration | |||
Dwell time specifies how long the pins vibrate in the arrangement of that frame | *Dwell time specifies how long the pins vibrate in the arrangement of that frame | ||
** Note: Should take into account 4.35ms “frame duration” | |||
e.g. if you put 5ms, It will do 2 protractions/frames, actually taking 8.7ms | ***e.g. if you put 5ms, It will do 2 protractions/frames, actually taking 8.7ms | ||
OR Click on cells to manually change them | *OR Click on cells to manually change them | ||
In array/frames for input: specify number of Blocks and Stimuli | *In array/frames for input: specify number of Blocks and Stimuli | ||
Blocks are like the Folder | *Blocks are like the Folder | ||
Stimuli are within blocks | **Stimuli are within blocks | ||
Can repeat blocks or stimuli independently | *Can repeat blocks or stimuli independently | ||
In the input window for the pins | *In the input window for the pins | ||
ANIMATE – can visualize how the pins are moving | **ANIMATE – can visualize how the pins are moving | ||
Switch off animate when running experiment | **Switch off animate when running experiment | ||
*** Can cause lag if it is switched on | |||
LOOP – will repeat whole sequence including blocks, stimuli – toggle on/off | **LOOP – will repeat whole sequence including blocks, stimuli – toggle on/off | ||
First 5 seconds of task should be empty – | *First 5 seconds of task should be empty – | ||
Might be vibrations due to noise etc, so have first 5 seconds empty to ensure experiment starts off clean | **Might be vibrations due to noise etc, so have first 5 seconds empty to ensure experiment starts off clean | ||
Powerlab box | *Powerlab box | ||
Can choose which pins the Powerlab box records from | **Can choose which pins the Powerlab box records from | ||
Data Collection | "Data Collection" | ||
Laptop has Labchart on it | *Laptop has Labchart on it | ||
Uses this for data collection | **Uses this for data collection | ||
Starting Labchart: | Starting Labchart: | ||
Labchart shortcut is on the desktop | *Labchart shortcut is on the desktop | ||
When labchart loads it will seach for optacon interface | *When labchart loads it will seach for optacon interface | ||
If optacon interface is powered off you can still load labchart | **If optacon interface is powered off you can still load labchart | ||
e.g. if you want to look at data | ***e.g. if you want to look at data | ||
If you want to use it with the optacon interface make sure interface is on first | **If you want to use it with the optacon interface make sure interface is on first | ||
To use settings that have been made for use with optacon: | *To use settings that have been made for use with optacon: | ||
Open a template (e.g ‘example’) | **Open a template (e.g ‘example’) | ||
Then: File – new – will ask if want to use settings based on other worksheet – click ‘yes’ | ***Then: File – new – will ask if want to use settings based on other worksheet – click ‘yes’ | ||
Testing if everything is connected properly | Testing if everything is connected properly | ||
Make a file that shows the button presses and the pins you are interested in recording from | *Make a file that shows the button presses and the pins you are interested in recording from | ||
Run and check if button presses and pin recordings correspond to the correct channel | *Run and check if button presses and pin recordings correspond to the correct channel | ||
e.g. Pin input test – test everything is plugged in properly | **e.g. Pin input test – test everything is plugged in properly | ||
Recording: | Recording: | ||
Press START button in the bottom right hand corner to start recording | *Press START button in the bottom right hand corner to start recording | ||
Top 3 channels shows input – i.e. response from pressing buttons | *Top 3 channels shows input – i.e. response from pressing buttons | ||
Bottom 3 channels records from pins | *Bottom 3 channels records from pins | ||
Can toggle MONITOR to the left of start button – it will monitor responses/input but doesn’t record | *Can toggle MONITOR to the left of start button – it will monitor responses/input but doesn’t record | ||
** Make sure it is off when you want to collect data | |||
*** Monitor Off / Recording– Not showing red X | |||
*** Monitor On / Not Recording – Showing red X | |||
Can also set up new channels to calculate things from the other channels | *Can also set up new channels to calculate things from the other channels | ||
Saving: | Saving: | ||
Save raw data as an .adicht file before doing anything | *Save raw data as an .adicht file before doing anything | ||
Can select data points – ‘save as’ data file | *Can select data points – ‘save as’ data file | ||
For stats: | For stats: | ||
File – export – labchart txt file | *File – export – labchart txt file | ||
Samples at 10k a second – can downsample it for smaller file size | *Samples at 10k a second – can downsample it for smaller file size - this may reduce precision of optacon pins because they are very fast (so find a suitable sampling rate for your purposes) | ||
this may reduce precision of optacon pins because they are very fast | |||
(so find a suitable sampling rate for your purposes) | |||
Notes for running participants | Notes for running participants | ||
Instruct participants that they do not need to press hard on buttons | *Instruct participants that they do not need to press hard on buttons | ||
Feels like it isn’t registering but it is | **Feels like it isn’t registering but it is | ||
Use scales to measure pressure on fingers | *Use scales to measure pressure on fingers | ||
Keep this constant over conditions and participants | **Keep this constant over conditions and participants | ||
**If pressure is too high – will dampen the vibrations – should be gently touching | |||
If pressure is too high – will dampen the vibrations – should be gently touching | |||
Misc notes: | Misc notes: | ||
Pull out blue cord at back of optacon to use the visual input part of the optacon | *Pull out blue cord at back of optacon to use the visual input part of the optacon | ||
Switch at back – INVERT – black on white or white on black | *Switch at back – INVERT – black on white or white on black | ||
Make sure optacon is not resting on the array – can damage the pins | *Make sure optacon is not resting on the array – can damage the pins | ||
ALWAYS BE CAREFUL – it is a fragile piece of equipment we can’t easily | *'''ALWAYS BE CAREFUL – it is a fragile piece of equipment we can’t easily replace''' | ||
--[[User:Elizabeth Nguyen|Elizabeth Nguyen]] 01:47, 13 July 2012 (EDT) | --[[User:Elizabeth Nguyen|Elizabeth Nguyen]] 01:47, 13 July 2012 (EDT) |
Revision as of 23:02, 12 July 2012
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USING THE OPTACON
Instructions for using the Optacon setup (draft)
Overview of set-up
- Tower+Monitor uses “Optacon Stimulator” software to provide input to Optacon Interface (the rectangular box with the TRS connectors/jacks).
- The Optacon Interface uses input from Opticon Stimulator to drive the optacon
- Powerlab box reads from Optacon Interface
- Response buttons are connected to the Powerlab box
- Laptop with Labchart collects the output from Powerlab box (button presses and signal from pins)
Switching on the system
- Turn on the computers
- Turn on Powerlab box (switch at back next to grey cord)
- Turn on Optacon Interface (switch on top of box where it says Power)
- Optacon should be the last thing you switch on
Switching off the system
- Optacon should be the first thing you switch off
- Then switch off the Optacon Interface + Powerlab box
- Then switch off computers
Input to Optacon interface
- The tower+monitor provides input to the optacon interface
- Open Optacon Stimulator
- Create New or Open
- Uses .txt files – can make these in excel etc.
- Array (frames) is the input
- Dwell time – how long it stays on that frame
- Pins have fixed vibration rate
- Single protraction/retraction is 4.35ms for ~230Hz vibration
- Dwell time specifies how long the pins vibrate in the arrangement of that frame
- Note: Should take into account 4.35ms “frame duration”
- e.g. if you put 5ms, It will do 2 protractions/frames, actually taking 8.7ms
- Note: Should take into account 4.35ms “frame duration”
- OR Click on cells to manually change them
- In array/frames for input: specify number of Blocks and Stimuli
- Blocks are like the Folder
- Stimuli are within blocks
- Can repeat blocks or stimuli independently
- In the input window for the pins
**ANIMATE – can visualize how the pins are moving **Switch off animate when running experiment *** Can cause lag if it is switched on **LOOP – will repeat whole sequence including blocks, stimuli – toggle on/off
- First 5 seconds of task should be empty –
- Might be vibrations due to noise etc, so have first 5 seconds empty to ensure experiment starts off clean
- Powerlab box
- Can choose which pins the Powerlab box records from
"Data Collection"
- Laptop has Labchart on it
- Uses this for data collection
Starting Labchart:
- Labchart shortcut is on the desktop
- When labchart loads it will seach for optacon interface
**If optacon interface is powered off you can still load labchart ***e.g. if you want to look at data **If you want to use it with the optacon interface make sure interface is on first
- To use settings that have been made for use with optacon:
- Open a template (e.g ‘example’)
- Then: File – new – will ask if want to use settings based on other worksheet – click ‘yes’
- Open a template (e.g ‘example’)
Testing if everything is connected properly
- Make a file that shows the button presses and the pins you are interested in recording from
- Run and check if button presses and pin recordings correspond to the correct channel
- e.g. Pin input test – test everything is plugged in properly
Recording:
- Press START button in the bottom right hand corner to start recording
- Top 3 channels shows input – i.e. response from pressing buttons
- Bottom 3 channels records from pins
- Can toggle MONITOR to the left of start button – it will monitor responses/input but doesn’t record
- Make sure it is off when you want to collect data
- Monitor Off / Recording– Not showing red X
- Monitor On / Not Recording – Showing red X
- Make sure it is off when you want to collect data
- Can also set up new channels to calculate things from the other channels
Saving:
- Save raw data as an .adicht file before doing anything
- Can select data points – ‘save as’ data file
For stats:
- File – export – labchart txt file
- Samples at 10k a second – can downsample it for smaller file size - this may reduce precision of optacon pins because they are very fast (so find a suitable sampling rate for your purposes)
Notes for running participants
- Instruct participants that they do not need to press hard on buttons
- Feels like it isn’t registering but it is
- Use scales to measure pressure on fingers
- Keep this constant over conditions and participants
- If pressure is too high – will dampen the vibrations – should be gently touching
Misc notes:
- Pull out blue cord at back of optacon to use the visual input part of the optacon
- Switch at back – INVERT – black on white or white on black
- Make sure optacon is not resting on the array – can damage the pins
- ALWAYS BE CAREFUL – it is a fragile piece of equipment we can’t easily replace
--Elizabeth Nguyen 01:47, 13 July 2012 (EDT)