Microprocessors: Their impact on real-time computing in psychology

Abstract

This paper attempts to evaluate the impact of microprocessors and other products using large-scale integrated circuit technologies with a set of examples of past, current, and proposed computer applications in psychological research. I first discuss a number of developments in real-time computing that have taken place during the last 10 years. The major part of this paper describes future developments in the Computer Laboratory for Instruction in Psychological Research. We are developing an intelligent high-speed communication network that will enable computers and terminals to communicate with each other. In addition, we are developing a microprocessor-based real-time computer system. The network, the real-time system, and the general assumption underlying the development of the next generation of CLIPR facilities are described.Automation of a psychological research laboratory is a very demanding application area for the current state of the art in real-time computing. Input and output data rates can range from a few bits per second (bps) to over 100,000 bps across classes of experimental paradigms. A constant requirement is that the system must be able to respond very rapidly to real-time events such as the end of a time interval or a keypress in order to control durations of stimuli and record response latencies accurately. In addition, a maximally useful system must have the software tools to enable a researcher to quickly develop new applications programs. Research paradigms and problems change rapidly in many areas of psychology, and thus investigators are unwilling to wait 6 months to I year for the development of a single program. 139This paper presents my opinions on the future impact that microprocessors, and other large-scale integration (LSI) technology, will have on automation in psychology laboratories. I begin with a discussion of views on the functional requirements for real-time computer systems for psychological research, and then describe an early PDP-8 based system and the system at Colorado based on the Xerox Sigma 3. These two systems are examples of the end points on a continuum defined by a laboratory computer for a single individual vs. a central, shared facility for a whole department.The major portions of this paper describe a new multiprocessor system that we are developing in the Computer Laboratory for Instruction in Psychological Research (CLlPR). This new system will integrate a wide variety of microprocessor-based applications ranging from special-purpose controllers and intelligent terminals to general-purpose real-time computing systems. The separate processors will be linked over a microprocessor-controlled communicaThis paper is an expanded version of the Presidential Address that I presented to the Seventh Annual Meeting of the National Conference on the Use of On-Line Computers in Psychology. The work described here represents the joint efforts of all members of CUPR. I especially wish to thank Terry Spear and Tom Christian for their contributions to my understanding of the...

A microprocessor-based real-time BASIC laboratory: A pulse motor-controlled visual stimulator

“…The recent development of microprocessor-based technology (Milkman, Shapley, & Schick, 1978;Perera, 1978;Polson, 1978;Santa & Streit, 1978;Sidowski, 1978) has led to the experimental use of real-time laboratory computer systems that are inexpensive.…”

The CLIPR remote laboratory microprocessor system: Development and applications

“…THE CLIPR NETWORK Polson (1978) reported work in progress at CUPR toward development of a network to support multiple RITs in a local environment. However, for purposes of completion and cogency of this paper, some discussion of the development of communications between the host computer and the RIT is required here.…”

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

“…A system that comes complete with a variety of high-level language processors, utilities, and software tools is likely to be cheaper in the long run than a higher priced system with limited software. Indeed, as hardware costs continue to drop, making minis and micros more available, many users are finding that the limited availability of general software (e.g., operating systems, text editors, file systems and utilities, language translators) is a limiting factor in computerized experimentation (Bowles & Hollan, 1978;Polson, 1978;Scholz, 1978). This work was supported by National Research Council of Canada Grant A8615 to the first author.…”

“…Possible systemsinclude single-user micro-and minicomputers (Murdock, Dufty, & Okada, 1972), multiuser micros and minis (Santa & Streit, 1978;Scholz & Halff, 1974), networks of small computers (Wallace, Johnson, & Johnson, 1978), general departmental computer facilities (Fitzhugh & Glaser, 1975;Polson, 1978;Proudfoot, 1978), and general university-wide installations (Huesmann, 1969;Hunt, 1969;Potts, 1976).…”