VLab Software

VLab is a scientific experimental control, data acquisition, and analysis system. It runs on Windows NT/2000/XP and Linux or Iris simultaneously. Its main features include:

• Controls a unix (SGI or Linux) workstation to generate 3-D visual stimuli over the TCP/IP network. For example, the dynamic random dot stereogram is used extensively in the field of vision research.
• In the control panel, the user (experimenter) can add the specific tests during the experiment. All the graphics parameters are obtained from the Open Inventor program in the unix workstation, in which the user can dynamically add the parameter. All the behavior parameters, i.e. parameters for the task and data acquisition, can also be managed dynamically by the user.
• The system uses different task files to perform different experimental tasks, i.e. the orientation discrimination task, the depth matching task. During the experiment, a task file is read into the memory and compiled dynamically by a integrated simple C compiler written in Lex and Yacc. This gives the experimenter great freedom and flexibility to design and modify the experiments he/she wants to give.
• The system also provides versatile methods to display the data collected. It has bubble plot, bar, line, and other special plots, such as the step edge plot and roof plot.
• User can also specify a formula to transform the data or the parameters. Simple calculations (+, -, *, /, ^, sqrt), logical comparison (AND, OR, NOT, IF/ELSE) and function calls (sin, cos, tan) are allowed in the formula.
• One of the most exciting feature is the Object Link and Embedding (OLE). It enables the user to include the data files containing the graphics in other database systems, such as MicroSoft Access. User can just drag the VLab data file into the form of the database for extensively analysis and view. Here is an example of a VLab data file in Microsoft Access with the in place editing enabled.
• VLab data files can be opened and exported to ODBC database, which brings the data immediately to the analysis packages such as SAS, MatLab or Systat after the experiments.