An empirical approach to the timing limitations of the raster-scan CRT

Broyles, James W.; Prill, Kenneth A.; Marx, Melvin H.; Salthouse, Timothy A.; Spencer, Kenneth L.

doi:10.3758/bf03330103

Bull. Psychon. Soc.

1982

DOI: 10.3758/bf03330103

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An empirical approach to the timing limitations of the raster-scan CRT

James W. Broyles

Kenneth A. Prill

Melvin H. Marx

et al.

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1984

1987

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Cited by 3 publications

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“…The tachistoscope is capable of millisecond accuracy in producing display-duration multiples of 16.7 msec. The listing of a program that implements a three-field (fixation point, target, mask) tachistoscope is included.The problems associated with the use of computerdriven raster-scan cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors for tachistoscopic displays have been discussed in a number of published sources (e.g., Broyles, Prill, Marks, Salthouse, & Spencer, 1982;Lincoln & Lane, 1980;Reed, 1979;Stentis & Barowicz, 1978). Despite the high speed of commonly used microprocessors, a number of factors limit the temporal resolution of these devices.…”

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Apple tachistoscope

Diener

Smee

1984

Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers

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This paper describes software for precise tachistoscopic presentation of stimuli on a raster-scan monitor controlled by an Apple lIe microcomputer. Routines that allow synchronization of the control program with the videoscan are provided. The timing accuracy of stimulus presentation on this system was measured independently, by mounting phototransistors to the CRT. The tachistoscope is capable of millisecond accuracy in producing display-duration multiples of 16.7 msec. The listing of a program that implements a three-field (fixation point, target, mask) tachistoscope is included.The problems associated with the use of computerdriven raster-scan cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors for tachistoscopic displays have been discussed in a number of published sources (e.g., Broyles, Prill, Marks, Salthouse, & Spencer, 1982;Lincoln & Lane, 1980;Reed, 1979;Stentis & Barowicz, 1978). Despite the high speed of commonly used microprocessors, a number of factors limit the temporal resolution of these devices. These factors include: (1) the long (10-15-msec) persistence of screen phosphors designed to produce a flicker-free display, (2) the time required to write information to video memory, and (3) the 60-Hz scanning rate (U.S.A.) of most raster-scan monitors. Fortunately, the Apple lie computer embodies provisions for dealing with these limitations and allows millisecond control of display duration with no hardware modification. Most of the methods of display control available to Apple users can be easily implemented on other microcomputer systems.The problems associated with phosphor decay rate can be easily overcome in most designs by following the target stimulus with a mask that writes an illuminated block over the display area. Thus, the interval between the target stimulus and mask onset, rather than phosphor decay, limits the display duration. The transparent access video display system of the Apple II series of computers (see Reed, 1979 for a discussion) also makes it possible to overcome the limitations associated with the transfer of information to the video display. Apple provides four graphics display "pages" (low-resolution graphics pages 1 and 2; high-resolution graphics pages 1 and 2) that permit the transfer of an entire screen of information to the video display between one videoscan and the next.The 60-Hz scanning rate of raster-scan CRTs imposes the most severe limitation on tachistoscopic presentations. Because the electron beam scans the screen only once every 1/6Oth of a second, display durations are limited to multiples of 16.67 msec. control program with the videoscan. In tachistoscopic research involving a mask, this synchronization is necessary to ensure that the display data are not changed at the same time they are being displayed, Without synchronization, part of the target stimulus might be presented on one scan and the other part of the target and part of the mask on the next scan. The problem can be more severe if the delay between the onset of the display of video memory containing the target s...

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confidence: 99%

Apple tachistoscope

Diener

Smee

1984

Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers

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A high-speed point plotter for vision research

Finley

1985

Vision Research

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Using an Apple II to control a two-field projection tachistoscope

Bowler

1987

Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers

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An empirical approach to the timing limitations of the raster-scan CRT

Cited by 3 publications

References 5 publications

Apple tachistoscope

Apple tachistoscope

A high-speed point plotter for vision research

Using an Apple II to control a two-field projection tachistoscope

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