Psykinematix 1.0 RC5

Psykinematix is a new OpenGL-based Software Package dedicated to Visual Psychophysics running on Mac OSX. It consists in a unique stand-alone application that does not require any programming skill to create and run complex experiments.
Easy to use, powerful, subject-friendly, and reliable, Psykinematix can run standard psychophysical protocols, collect subjects responses, present complex stimuli, and analyze results on the fly.
Psykinematix is also a great learning tool to introduce visual perception and to illustrate psychophysical concepts to students.
Psykinematix is currently available in public beta 4. Expect a final release in early 2008 !
NOTE: IMPORTANT! You are downloading a pre-release software that contains bugs, partially implemented features and may not work correctly under all circumstances. It is being made available for testing purposes only. Use at your own risk!

Main features:
Easy experimental design:
- no programming required.
- use of a hierarchical structure.
- design wizard.
Standard methods:
- constant stimuli.
- staircase.
- bayesian.
Standard procedures:
- nAFC.
- yes/no.
- discrimination.
- adjustment.
A large variety of visual stimuli:
- shapes.
- carrier (grating, noise, etc) modulated by envelope.
- checkerboard-like (cartesian or polar).
- custom (expression-based).
Composing:
- static (1st, 2nd-order).
- dynamic (fusion, flickering).
- timeline (OSA, ISI).
- conditional, association.
Support for multimedia stimuli:
- text.
- image.
- movie.
- sound.
Display calibration:
- geometry.
- Gamma correction (manual or automatic).
- radiometrics and colorimetrics.
- Precise control of time-varying properties.
- Data plotting and fitting with psychometric functions.
- Subjects, groups and sessions management.
- Communication with external devices (USB, serial, network).
- Easy export of stimuli (clipboard, image and movie files).
- Built-in documentation, demos and examples, tutorials.

System requirements:
- PowerPC G4, G5 or Intel Core processor >1.5 GHz.
- 1 GB of RAM, 5 GB of free hard-disk space on system partition.
- ATI Radeon, NVIDIA GeForce, or Intel GMA video chip with 64MB.
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Version restrictions:
- 15 days trial period.

Enhancements
New Features:
- Support for limited-lifetime in Multi-Element Field (MEF),
- Support for element specific rotation as function its position in Multi-Element Field (MEF),
- Support for dot specific speed and direction in Random-Dot Kinematogram (RDK),
- OpenGL preview and export to movie for Multi-Element stimuli (RDK & MEF) and Dynamic Composing,
- Addition of za output in Custom Stimuli to specify stimulus transparency,
- BETA support for "Mono++" and "Color++" modes provided by CRS Bits++ (please send feedback!),
- Support for onset trigger from composing stimuli in Dynamic Composing (except for fused mode),
- Support for absolute and relative step size in Adjustment procedure,
- Support for multiple step sizes in Adjustment procedure,
- Support for Keypad input devices (Adesso keypad AKP-150, Targus Keypad PAUK10C),
- Support for stereoscopic stimuli (monocular, binocular and dichoptic presentation) in vertically split display setup (free-fusing, mirror-based stereoscope, or dual video input goggles),
- Support for Scaling Factor in Rendering properties (Control Settings Palette),
Feature Improvements:
- Addition of [$] variable format to specify the latest value set for a random variable (useful for random variables used in different events),
- Support for expression operands in range format (:),
- Support for expression-based values for minimum and maximum levels in Method of Constant Stimuli, mean and range of initial value for Staircase and Adjustment,
- Support for interleaved adjustments,
- Support for randomly ordered interleaved methods and adjustment procedure,
- Support for multiple values (separated by comma) associated with the same event in Association Composing,
- Faster generation of dynamic grating-like, checkerboard-like and custom stimuli,
- Better error detection when using Wizard,
User interface improvements:
- Change in selection of event subcategory is now prevented by default, but can be forced by pressing simultaneously the Control key,
- Automatic expanding of experiment hierarchy after run-time errors occurs,
Fixed:
- Problem with duplicated columns in results data table,
- Failing Gamma correction,
- NetStation crash at closing time,
- Keep As Fixation option not always working for Shape stimuli,
- Fixation mark overlapping bug in first trial after text stimulus,
- Changes in stimulus duration not being saved,
- Crash occurring with variable-based duration in Visual stimuli,
- Problem with manual entries of Gamma readings not being validated except when using a keypad,
- Problem with duplicate estimates provided by the adjustment method in Root data level (Plotter panel),
- Problem with use of conditional variables in decision for Discrimination and Yes/No procedures,
- Selection problem in Conditions method,
- Problem with results report for interleaved Bayesian and Constant Stimuli methods in Root data level (Plotter panel),
- Run-time error when creating experiment with Wizard,
- Crash with Japanese language,
- Run-time error when no EDID information available for old CRT display,
- Stimulus glitch when specifying log sampling in Bayesian method,
- Problem with non-sticking default properties for Multi-Element Stimuli (RDK and MEF),
- Default input device now properly selected when no other device has been explicitly defined,
- Serial device missing from the trigger pop-up menu in control settings palette,
- Bug with editable data folder in Session Information panel which could lead to data loss for the current session,
- Cosmetic bug in Control Settings for MEF/RDK stimuli,
- Stimuli preview now uses the display settings from experiment event if available (Display preferences otherwise),
- Crash with selection of modulation mode other than contrast,
- Problem with contrast not being used when creating preview of statically composed stimuli,
- Bug with Src and Dst Mode not being disabled except for Custom mode in rendering control settings,
- Bug preventing stimuli editing when using expressions in some formats,
- Error reported when using dependent variable in time-varying expression,
- Apparent computer freeze due to too large generated stimuli (validity of geometry calibration now checked based on FOV range before running the experiment),
- Issues with validation of pending text field entries in Control Settings Palette,
- Graph sampling problems for fitted data in Plotter panel,
Documentation:
- Additional "Multi-Elements" Demos in "Demos, Examples & Tutorials 1RC5".