Atsip 2006Atsip 2006

Noel TaylorNoel Taylor

University of University of HertfordshireHertfordshire

Developing with Developing with AuthorwareAuthorware

Testbed RevisitedTestbed Revisited

TestbedTestbed

► ‘‘Testbed’ is a Response Testbed’ is a Response Test Generator Program, Test Generator Program, developed using developed using AuthorwareAuthorware

TestbedTestbed

► It is free It is free ► Install on student Install on student

notebooksnotebooks► Not intended for high Not intended for high

level research projectslevel research projects► Experiments setup quicklyExperiments setup quickly► Many types of mediaMany types of media► Many types of experimentMany types of experiment► On-going developementOn-going developement

Types of stimuliTypes of stimuli

► Images – bmp, tiff, jpeg, wmf, pict, giff, psd, Images – bmp, tiff, jpeg, wmf, pict, giff, psd, targa, pngtarga, png

► Sounds – wav, mp3, aiff, shockwave audioSounds – wav, mp3, aiff, shockwave audio► Plain Text Plain Text ► Rich Text Files (from Word)Rich Text Files (from Word)► Video – Quicktime or AviVideo – Quicktime or Avi► Animations – flash, director, autodesk Animations – flash, director, autodesk ► Pdf Pdf

► ‘‘stimuli lists’ of any combination of the above stimuli lists’ of any combination of the above

Types of experimentTypes of experiment

► Simple unevaluated response testsSimple unevaluated response tests► Evaluated response tests Evaluated response tests

correct/incorrect correct/incorrect Correct/neutral/incorrectCorrect/neutral/incorrect

► Non-evaluated tests and surveys:Non-evaluated tests and surveys: Likert ScalesLikert Scales Free Text EntryFree Text Entry Single key responsesSingle key responses

Details of experiment Details of experiment typestypes

► Text based tests can be configured as:Text based tests can be configured as:

Basic Stroop TestsBasic Stroop Tests To show To show xx number of words before a response is number of words before a response is

requiredrequired Text can be formatted with colour, font size and screen Text can be formatted with colour, font size and screen

positionposition

Additional featuresAdditional features

► Configure automatic time-outsConfigure automatic time-outs► Pre-configured ‘fixation events’Pre-configured ‘fixation events’► Configure ‘thankyou’ messagesConfigure ‘thankyou’ messages► Configure ‘help screens’Configure ‘help screens’► Add questions to stimuli eventsAdd questions to stimuli events► Pause between stimuli, pause between blocks, pause between Pause between stimuli, pause between blocks, pause between

subjectssubjects► Position stimuli on screen using drag and dropPosition stimuli on screen using drag and drop► Change background colours to any colourChange background colours to any colour► Select stimuli randomly, alphabetical order, randomly with Select stimuli randomly, alphabetical order, randomly with xx

repeatsrepeats► Group blocks together. Group blocks together. ► Select blocks randomly, numerical order or manually at run Select blocks randomly, numerical order or manually at run

timetime

Speed of setting upSpeed of setting up

► Testbed uses all the contents of a folder Testbed uses all the contents of a folder to create one block (except for word & to create one block (except for word & stimuli lists)stimuli lists)

► Block settings can be duplicated when Block settings can be duplicated when creating new onescreating new ones

► Blocks can be previewed from within the Blocks can be previewed from within the setup program. setup program.

► Evaluated responses assigned via standard Evaluated responses assigned via standard list boxes list boxes

Response hardwareResponse hardware

► Mouse devicesMouse devices► KeysKeys► Serial port devicesSerial port devices

Cedrus Response PadsCedrus Response Pads Voice Keys Voice Keys

Results filesResults files

Testbed offers two types of results records:Testbed offers two types of results records:

► One file per subject – replicates the Superlab formatOne file per subject – replicates the Superlab format

Advantage: easy for novice users to understandAdvantage: easy for novice users to understand Disadvantage: harder to import for analysis into SPSS/ExcelDisadvantage: harder to import for analysis into SPSS/Excel

► One file per experiment – all subjects recorded in a One file per experiment – all subjects recorded in a single filesingle file

Advantage: harder for novice users to understand Advantage: harder for novice users to understand Disadvantage: easier to import for analysis into SPSS/ExcelDisadvantage: easier to import for analysis into SPSS/Excel

Authorware 7.0Authorware 7.0► Interactive learning Interactive learning

materialsmaterials

negative points:negative points:

► UnfashionableUnfashionable No Shockwave pluginNo Shockwave plugin Poor design toolsPoor design tools Limited transparency effectsLimited transparency effects

► Poor support – AdobePoor support – Adobe► Not fully object Not fully object

orientedoriented► Overly linearOverly linear► Interpreted code, based Interpreted code, based

on Pascal syntaxon Pascal syntax

Authorware 7.0Authorware 7.0main positive points:main positive points:

► Rapid development toolRapid development tool Linear model is intuitiveLinear model is intuitive Icons aid visualisation of Icons aid visualisation of

structurestructure System substructure handled by System substructure handled by

the Authorware runtime the Authorware runtime Knowledge ObjectsKnowledge Objects Many third party functionsMany third party functions Highly Extensible to programersHighly Extensible to programers Flash & Director Xtras supportedFlash & Director Xtras supported

► Imports Flash & Director Imports Flash & Director under scripted controlunder scripted control

► Cross platform & InternetCross platform & Internet► Supports JavascriptSupports Javascript► Supports wide range of mediaSupports wide range of media

Authorware & TestbedAuthorware & Testbed

► Multimedia synchronisation features:Multimedia synchronisation features:

More accurate timings than system clockMore accurate timings than system clock Multimedia clock also used by SuperlabMultimedia clock also used by Superlab

► Built in support for wide range of media typesBuilt in support for wide range of media types► Interpreted code has minimal effect at the crucial Interpreted code has minimal effect at the crucial

points in programpoints in program

THERE WAS A DEMO OF AUTHOREWARETHERE WAS A DEMO OF AUTHOREWAREAT THIS POINTAT THIS POINT

Testbed can be downloaded at:Testbed can be downloaded at:

http://testbed.herts.ac.uk/testbed.htm

(it’s best to download the sample media files as well)(it’s best to download the sample media files as well)