Connecting the Commodore 64 to the IBM PC

Hardware is described that permits bidirectional transfer of data between the Commodore 64 and an IBM-compatible PC. Commercial terminal programs can be used to transmit data. The hardware, which can be constructed for less than $15, opens up several opportunities for making good use of the cost-effective C64 computer.     

A 64-station computer-assisted teaching and research facility

A 64-subject computer-controlled laboratory for use in research and as a teaching aid is described. The laboratory hardware includes an 8K minicomputer, a 64-channel input multiplexor, and a video display generator. The software includes a complete operating system and an easy-to-use programming language. The entire laboratory, including the computer, was built for under $12,000.     

A microcomputer interface for control of real-time experiments in cognitive psychology

A microcomputer system for real-time control of experiments in cognitive psychology is described. The microcomputer serves as an interface that allows a remote timesharing computer to control the timed display of textual material on CRTs and collect response times accurate to 1 msec. It can control two CRT subject stations presenting the same or different experiments and control other devices such as slide projectors and tape recorders. It is argued that such special-purpose microcomputer interfaces provide a real-time laboratory with significantly less effort than does the more traditional laboratory minicomputer.     

Computer control of memory experiments on a large-scale timesharing system

This paper describes a computer system for running verbal learning and memory experiments using a large-scale timesharing computer. Its application is illustrated by control programs used to set up, execute, and analyze a series of interactive free recall experiments. While limitations of timesharing systems for experimental control surely exist, they can often be removed by simple hardware or software. Further, a large machine can provide significant advantages in cost and software development over dedicated laboratory minicomputers. It is possible to obtain the advantages of both types of systems by introducing local intelligence to provide more precise timing and flexible control of experimental devices, while retaining the power and hardware and software resources of the large machine.     

Microcomputers in social psychophysiological research: An overview

Microcomputer systems have become commonplace in the psychophysiological laboratory during the past 5 years and are currently used in all phases of data acquisition, experimental control, and data analysis. In the past year, however, advances in microprocessor technology and scientific software have greatly extended the capabilities of these desk-top systems. Small laboratories now can afford an integrated laboratory microcomputer system and both the high-fidelity data acquisition hardware and the sophisticated analysis capabilities traditionally found in large minicomputers. We briefly describe the demands that social psychophysiological research can place on computer systems, the system presently employed in our laboratory, and a system being installed to overcome limitations on sampling rate, sampling periods, and waveform analysis.     

Controlling experiments with a general-purpose time-sharing system

For many experiments in the behavioral and biomedical sciences, there is no substitute for an experimental-control computer with true real-time capabilities. However, if an experimenter can tolerate timing errors of several seconds, then he can reap the benefits of computer control by buying time on a general-purpose time-sharing system. There can be little doubt that a self-contained computer-controlled laboratory will be more economical if a fair number of experiments are contemplated. But when only a few experiments are planned, the researcher may find that he can run them with a general-purpose time-sharing system at only a fraction of the cost of establishing a     

A multi-user on-line 8080 microcomputer system

A laboratory control system based upon the Imsai 8080 microcomputer is described. This system is capable of programming separate events in each of five animal operant chambers and recording the resulting behavioral data. The interface between the computer and the chambers is compatible with the 28-V dc nature of these chambers and various peripheral devices, such as cumulative recorders. At present, system software is based on the 8080 assembly language, while the BASIC language is used for data analysis. Cost considerations and comparisons with minicomputers are discussed.     

Auditory evoked response in chinchilla: Application to animal audiometry

In chinchilla a neural response to tone pips or the onset of pure tones can be recorded from scalp electrodes. If 64 responses are averaged by a computer the response can be recognized reliably at sound pressure levels at or near chinchilla’s usual behavioral thresholds of hearing. Detection is possible at slightly lower levels if the number of responses is increased to 500 to 1000. The response is an initiallypositive diphasic wave with latency to foot between 1.6 and 4.0 msec. It apparently arises from several structures in the brainstem but chiefly from the inferior colliculus. The technique may be useful in assessing quickly the sensitivity of the peripheral auditory mechanism in small laboratory animals.     

Prevention of the development of problem behavior: A laboratory model

Few studies have isolated the preventive efficacy of common behavioral strategies like noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA). The purpose of the current study was to develop and evaluate a laboratory model of these two problem behavior prevention strategies. Undergraduate students participated in a computer simulation, in which clicks to a designated area of the computer screen were analogous to the emergence of problem behavior. The responding of participants in a control group, who experienced a percentile schedule used to mimic the shaping of problem behavior, was compared to that of participants in two experimental groups, each with a history of either DRA or NCR. Between‐subjects group comparisons showed that both intervention strategies were equally effective in the prevention of our analog to problem behavior when compared to the control group. The strengths and limitations of a laboratory model for prevention are discussed in light of recent applied work in this area.     

Failure of laboratory evaluation of CAI to generalize to classroom settings: TheSuperShrink interview simulation

Laboratory settings are often used to evaluate instructional innovations. This paper reports a comparison of laboratory and course evaluation ofSuperShrink, an educational computer simulation of two comprehensive clinical interviews designed to teach undergraduates personality and diagnostic formulation. Previous experimental comparison of the computer simulation with a booklet version ofSuperShrink in a laboratory setting, carried out with volunteers from the departmental subject pool, indicated that students found the computer version more involving, enjoyable, and realistic. The present experiment involved the comparison of computer and booklet versions of two complete cases in four courses in abnormal psychology. The results opposed those from the laboratory setting. The students strongly preferred the booklet version and cited its greater convenience as one reason for their preference. Our findings suggest that care must be taken to ensure that laboratory evaluations of CAI are ecologically valid and are replicated in classroom settings.     

Integrating a computer component into the student psychology laboratory: Problems and prospects

This paper presents some commonly occurring problems associated with integrating a computer component into student psychology laboratories. Implementation of a computer component requires consideration of differences among students, objectives and teaching style of the instructor, course level and content, and courseware to be used. These factors are examined with respect to how they can affect the success of an attempt to use computers in the instructional laboratory.     

Automated system for ball launching,visual occlusion,and data acquisition in a ball-hitting task

Investigations of the mechanisms underlying visual-motor coordination traditionally have been limited to static situations or one-dimensional motions. Technical advances are required to determine whether experimental results from these restricted behavior domains generalize to dynamic action in three dimensions, such as ball-hitting. In this paper, we describe electromechanical devices, under computer control, for projecting a table-tennis ball, selecting monocular or binocular visual input, and recording ball-hitting performance. The automated system allows freedom of movement for the batter, can be used in a moderately sized laboratory, and can be made from easily obtainable, inexpensive parts.     

A microcomputer-controlled laboratory: Hardware

A microcomputer-controlled laboratory designed to incorporate the Motorola 6800 microprocessor unit is described. The microcomputer system is reliable, flexible, and expandable, as well as adaptable to the next generation of Motorola microprocessor components. A modular system design utilizes multiprocessing with separate microprocessor units dedicated to specific functions. This computer, when used with powerful, high-level software, provides a general-purpose psychology laboratory computer system that is easy to use.     

Interactive computer assistance for biofeedback and psychophysiological research: Pragmatics of development

Key assumptions and decisions influencing the design, programming, and operation of an interactive computer-control system for a biofeedback research laboratory are discussed. Most interactions with the computer are in the form of simple English queries and answers. Laboratory activities for which the computer provides assistance include instrument calibration, time-critical system testing, experiment set-up and instrument hook-up, experiment control, data management, and analysis. Use of structured programming technique is described. Authors and laboratory staff conclude that interactive assistance is a helpful research tool in many situations and that future laboratory-control systems will have more extensive English language interactive capability.     

Minicomputer controller for a behavioral primate laboratory

To keep pace with the increased animal carrying load and research productivity of our facilities by perpetual modification of and additions to rigid hardwired equipment would have been a costly and time-consuming enterprise. Thus, a computer controller for the laboratory was an inevitable choice to replace our highly individualized analog and digital units. Our system is based on a minimally configured PDP-8/e, devoid of peripherals except for a Teletype, in which the first phase was guided by the intent to replace separate component instrumentation with a unified digital computer system. The interface design was confined to five different printed circuit boards which in combination could handle computer I/O, switch contact inputs, analog threshold inputs, and medium current output control. Our software package can be divided functionally into three parts: the program interrupt handler, the background control programs, and the resident subroutines.     

MacLaboratory Controller: A switch and A/D interface between Apple’s Macintosh and peripheral apparatus

Apple’s Macintosh microcomputer has advantages over other systems used for laboratory control and data acquisition, especially because of its graphic and user-friendly features. However, a major perceived limitation has been its closed architecture. We describe an interface using the RS 422 modem port that supports up to 64 input/output (I/O) functions including analog-to-digital 4–12 channel input. The Controller software supplies an easily edited authoring tool in which functional relationships, logical operators, timing (millisecond accuracy), and counting functions are established through simple mouse and menu commands. Data from I/O functions may be displayed or saved as tab-delimited files that can be opened by various Macintosh statistical and spreadsheet packages and that are transportable to some mainframe applications.     

IBM PC Tachistoscope: Text stimuli

Due to cost, speed, and flexibility, the IBM PC and compatibles are good computers for laboratory use. Outlined here is a program that allows a computer from this class of machines to be used as a tachistoscope. The example given is for visual half-field presentation and can be easily modified for other presentation paradigms.     

A Commodore 64-based interface system for the operant laboratory

A system of interfaces for the Commodore 64 (C-64) microcomputer for use in the operant laboratory is described. This system frees the experimenter from limitations on the number of I/O lines available on the user port of the C-64 and offers the control of operant chambers for a low cost. Subroutines in machine code to control the interfaces, offering millisecond timing of external events, are presented. A sample BASIC program demonstrates how the subroutines are called from BASIC to run a simple discrimination experiment.