Economical point plotter interface for a PDP-12 computer

An economical point plotter interface is described for the PDP-12 computer.     

An optimized facial stimuli paradigm for hybrid SSVEP+P300 brain computer interface

In this paper, hybrid BCI that merges Event Related Potentials (P300) and Steady State visual Evoked Potentials (SSVEP) simultaneously is proposed to enhance the performance of Four-choice command system. Here we integrate human facial structure in external visual stimulus to evoke stronger cortical responses in hybrid SSVEP+P300 BCI & compare it with non-face stimuli. We also addressed question of feasibility of eliciting one potential by face & other by non-face stimuli. To evoke SSVEP & P300 responses, paradigms with non-face stimuli, neutral face stimuli, and facial expression changes stimuli are proposed. We also projected additional paradigm where SSVEP is elicited by non-face and P300 by flashing different facial expressions. Results proved the last paradigm evoke stronger cortical potentials and thereby improve system accuracy and ITR than other paradigms. Author discussed external stimulus parameters that might affect simultaneous evocation of multiple brain potentials and their deterioration effect on individual potentials.     

The reliability of a computer interview for drug use/abuse information

A computer interview was developed to collect information about drug use/abuse from high school students. Responses to this interview were compared with those obtained from an identical paper-and-pencil questionnaire given to the same students, in counterbalanced order. Results were comparable for the two methods, but missing data and logically inconsistent answers obtained with the paper-and-pencil questionnaire were not possible with the computer interview. The overwhelming majority of respondents preferred the computer interview as a means of data collection.     

A simple infrared photocell device and its interface to an Apple computer

This paper describes a simple infrared photocell circuit that is inexpensive and easy to construct. The light source and detector are housed inexpensively and are focused so the light and detector may be separated over significant distances. The circuit may be used in a variety of conditions, including total darkness and bright fluorescent lighting, without having to readjust or recalibrate the circuitry. Output from the circuit may be used to drive other transistors or electromechanical relays. With minimal additional circuitry and hardware the signal may be interfaced with an Apple computer.     

An interface system for asynchronous data

This article describes a system for interfacing items of computing equipment in circum-stances where the short-term data rate of the source exceeds that of the receiver device. Outline circuitry is given for an application permitting high-speed input to an event-driven time and event data logger.     

The VIC-20 computer and an interface system for controlling operant chambers

In this article, we describe the interfacing of the VIC-20 microcomputer with an operant chamber. An example of an experiment with its corresponding BASIC program is presented.     

Poisson models for assessing rater agreement in discrete response studies

In this paper we discuss a method for assessing agreement among raters who are scoring the number of times, a specified event occurs. In such cases, it seems reasonable to define agreement in terms of raters' behaviours in correctly identifying responses which have in fact occurred, and in their falsely counting responses which have not. We exploit the discrete nature of the response variable, and examine a class of models for mean response assuming an underlying Poisson distribution. Test statistics are given for deciding on the applicability of the models, and whether there is agreement with respect to correctly detecting responses, as well as with falsely scoring responses.     

Continuous and discrete latent structure models for item response data

Relations are examined between latent trait and latent class models for item response data. Conditions are given for the two-latent class and two-parameter normal ogive models to agree, and relations between their item parameters are presented. Generalizationss are then made to continuous models with more than one latent trait and discrete models with more than two latent classes, and methods are presented for relating latent class models to factor models for dichotomized variables. Results are illustrated using data from the Law School Admission Test, previously analyzed by several authors.     

Eye-gaze-contingent control of the computer interface: Methodology and example for zoom detection

Discrimination of user intent at the computer interface solely from eye gaze can provide a powerful tool, benefiting many applications. An exploratory methodology for discriminating zoom-in, zoom-out, and no-zoom intent was developed for such applications as telerobotics, disability aids, weapons systems, and process control interfaces. Using an eye-tracking system, real-time eye-gaze locations on a display are collected. Using off-line procedures, these data are clustered, using minimum spanning tree representations, and then characterized. The cluster characteristics are fed into a multiple linear discriminant analysis, which attempts to discriminate the zoom-in, zoom-out, and no-zoom conditions. The methodologies, algorithms, and experimental data collection procedure are described, followed by example output from the analysis programs. Although developed specifically for the discrimination of zoom conditions, the methodology has broader potential for discrimination of user intent in other interface operations.     

Teaching a computer to teach

The long-range goal of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) should be to construct computer programs that interact with a student as a human tutor does. In order to make computers act as intelligent tutors, we must consider three aspects of teaching; (1) A tutor makes use of many different knowledge sources. (2) A tutorial session is a kind of problem-solving situation in which the tutor is trying to solve the problem of imparting understanding to the student. (3) There is an analogy between the process of communication and those of teaching in that both require the participants to make a number of inferences about each other’s states and responses. A tutor designs an “instructional act,” anticipating how the student will interpret and learn from it, and the student interprets and learns from the instruction in a manner that depends on his hypotheses about the intent of the tutor. The paper reviews the relevant literature and discusses how we will incorporate such ideas into CAI systems.     

Coordination of a discrete response with periodic finger tapping: additional experimental aspects for a subtle mechanism

The authors investigated the coordination of periodic right-hand tapping with single stimulus-evoked discrete lefthand taps to check for task interactions and a possible relationship between phase resetting (see tapping literature; e.g., J. Yamanishi, M. Kawato, & R. Suzuki, 1979) and phase entrainment (see tremor literature; e.g., R. J. Elble, C. Higgins, & L. Hughes, 1994). The experimental paradigm employs a dual-task condition as used by K. Yoshino, K. Takagi, T. Nomura, S. Sato, and M. Tonoike (2002), and it includes normal tapping and isometric tapping with the authors recording finger positions and ground contact forces. Four different types of coordination schemes were observed in tapping behavior: marginal tapping interaction (MTI), periodic tap retardation (PTR), periodic tap hastening (PTH), and discrete tap entrainment (DTE); MTI and PTR correspond to the phase-resetting effect for the coordination of periodic tapping with single discrete taps. The novel aspect of the study described in this article includes the impact of the periodic tapping on the discrete tap timing and the hastening of the periodic tapping due to the discrete tap behaviors resulting in a synchronized execution of the two concurrent tapping tasks. All participants showed a dominant tapping behavior, but they all used the other nondominant forms of the four reported coordination schemes in some trials too, which reflects possible constraints of the sensorimotor system in handling two competing tasks.     

The interviewing computer: A technology for gathering comprehensive treatment information

The interviewing computer is a practical device for gathering comprehensive information on mental health patients. The complex decisions of a treatment science will require a large body of patient facts and an automated interviewing system to elicit such facts, covering the patient’s intake assessment, therapeutic progress, and follow-up stages of treatment. Evidence suggests that the computer interview may equal or excel the interview accomplishments of some clinicians who are unknowledgeable about asking certain clinical questions, forget to ask these questions, or fail to record crucial patient facts. The documentation of each patient’s treatment episode is essential for a treatment science, and the computer interview may represent a technology for achieving this information goal.     

An infrared device to monitor discrete ambulatory and stereotypic behaviors

An electronic device that can detect discrete ambulatory and stereotypic behaviors of animals is described. The system involves a minimum of two infrared (IR) beams, each connected to a set/reset flip-flop or latch. The initial occlusion of an IR beam simultaneously sets a latch, delivers a locomotion pulse output, and resets any previously set latch whose IR beam is not occluded. A set latch causes its associated IR beam to be refractory to further locomotion movements until reset by the occlusion of a second IR beam. All beams are continuously responsive to stereotypic activity.