KyberVision is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Psykinematix 1.0 Release Candidate 1.
Download Psykinematix DMG

Download Psykinematix 1.0 rc1 (15-day trial) [23.7MB] (RC status indicates it will become the final release if no new bug is reported)

System Requirements

Minimum: Mac OS X 10.4, G4 800Mhz, 32MB VRAM.
Recommended: Mac OS X 10.4 or 10.5, Intel Core 1.6Ghz or better, 128MB VRAM or better.

Release Notes

Minor updates available through the built-in updater may fix some issues you have.

Version 1.2.3  Released: July 21st, 2010

New Features:

  • Beta support for frame sequential stereo through quadbuffer compatible graphics card (eg, QuadroFX) or blue line technique,
  • RSVP (Rapid Sequential Visual Presentation) for Multimedia Image stimuli,
  • Multiple Input Collection in Discrimination Procedure (useful in binocular rivalry studies),
  • Easy way to take a screenshot during an experiment (press ESC to abort and the last stimulus frame is automatically grabbed, then use "Save Last Frame As..." in the File menu to save it to an image file),

Feature Improvements:

  • Optimization in generation of time-varying "Custom Stimulus",
  • Addition of Sync and Async options to lifetime mode in MEF stimulus (for "On-Off" and "Field Update" options),
  • Support for monocular and disparity formats in MEF x-axis position,
  • Support for variable/expression-based mean and range for pedestal values in nFC Procedure event,

Fixed:

  • Crash occurring with Gaming device used to terminate stimulus outside of Procedure event,
  • Crash occurring when reordering newly added entries in the Multimedia Text table,
  • Memory leak in "Custom Stimulus" expression with time-varying parameters,
  • Memory leak with sounds used in "Auditory" feedback,
  • Missing implementation of Integer unit conversion in "Custom Stimulus" expression's parameters,
  • Missing display resolutions when OSX reports frame rate with a fractional part,
  • Missing trial information for nAFC procedure and Adjustment method when used outside an embedding method,
  • Order problem for RT measurements in "Trials" data table (introduced in 1.2),
  • Issue with variable-based shape stimulus (introduced in v1.2),
  • Unwanted precomputation of expressions that use random values,
  • Compatibility problem between dynamic interval and the various stereo modes,
  • Expiration warnings for calibrations not supported on the current display setup,
  • Text preview not being immediately updated in the Multimedia Text table.

Version 1.2.2  Released: April 30th, 2010

New Features:

  • Addition of dshiftp() function to apply positive disparity shift with subpixel resolution to matrix variables in "Custom Stimulus" expression box,
  • Addition of ArcMin unit for parameters in "Custom Stimulus" panel,
  • Direct access to Psykinematix "Facebook" group from "Help" section to share news, tips, etc.,

Feature Improvements:

  • Support for subpixel resolution through bilinear interpolation in 2D shift() function,
  • Addition of 'Control-Click' option to "+" button in Multimedia stimuli panel to indicate new folder where items reported as "Not Found" have been moved to,

Fixed:

  • Unnecessary red highlights of ';' and '=' symbols in "Custom Stimulus" expression box,
  • Bug with interpretation of "Label" field for NetStation triggering information (introduced in 1.2),
  • Crash due to time-varying parameters in "Custom Stimulus" expression (introduced in 1.2).

Version 1.2.1  Released: April 15th, 2010

Feature Improvements:

  • Addition of Font & Size options for fixation marks,

Fixed:

  • Lack of update for some texture-only parameters (like contrast) in MEF stimuli with multiple elements (bug introduced in v1.2).

Version 1.2  Released: April 5th, 2010

New Features:

  • Support for ioLab Button Box,
  • Support for Cedrus RB-x30 Response Pads & Lumina Response Pads for fMRI through LSC-400 controller,
  • Estimation of clock drift for button box with internal timer for high accuracy response time measurement (eg, ioLab & Cedrus button box),
  • Support for clock-based Trial Alarm (as provided by some button box like the ioLabBox) controlled by [TAPERIOD] variable and reported as "TA" input,
  • Support for HID Gamepad and Joystick devices (only buttons supported so far),
  • Support for "Pause" option before triggering the next trial,
  • Addition of "Response in Post-Stimulus Interval only" option in Procedure trial properties,
  • Addition of fixation mark position parameters in Control Settings of Experiment Properties Panel,
  • Support for random selection of stimulus fixation whose duration and change probability controlled by [FIXDURATION] & [FIXPROB] variables,
  • Addition of "Stippled Lines" option to Shape Stimulus,
  • Addition of cminmax(value,min,max) clamping function (clamps value to the range defined by min and max),
  • Addition of randg(mean,std) scalar function to generate random real numbers according to from a Gaussian distribution,
  • Addition of gnoise(x,m,u,s,g) 2D Gaussian noise generation function from Gaussian distribution with mean m and standard deviation u, with seed s and granularity g,
  • Addition of ifft(magnitude,phase) inverse Fourier transform function,
  • Addition of spatial versus Fourier preview for Custom Stimulus,
  • Addition of "Fourier" unit for Custom Stimulus parameters,

Feature Improvements:

  • Support for variable/expression in Multimedia sound volume,
  • Support for time-varying OpenGL orientation and scaling rendering settings for RDK and MEF stimuli,
  • Support for variable format [<name>:<value>] in expression evaluation inside math editor,
  • Use of provided default values (variable format [<name>:<value>]) to generate OpenGL preview,
  • Report start time for condition-defined trials in results table,
  • Pre-computation of stimuli that depend on independent variables with real values,

User interface improvements:

  • Addition of progress footer and summary tab in Calibration Panel,
  • Support for multiple lines expression in stimuli parameter text fields (with ; separator to indicate new line in expression editor),
  • Prevent drag & drop of experiment events into other events (except the Undefined 'folder' kind),
  • Popup menu provided to list the available inputs for the selected self-paced device triggering the next trial,
  • Better handling of condition design (default value for added variables and trials count updated whenever values are edited),
  • More precise plotting of Bayesian data fitting,
  • Addition of a more useful message for expression error in Custom Stimulus,

Fixed:

  • ESC keypress not being detected when using mouse and button box as response devices or while waiting for self-paced next trial,
  • Overlapping problem for pre- and post-stimulus fixations with time-limited response,
  • Terminating response not being detected during RT pre-stimulus interval,
  • 1 pixel artefact in RT pre-stimulus interval,
  • Mismatch between report and plotting of threshold estimate for decreasing psychometric functions,
  • Duplicate entries in resolution menu from Experiment Display Settings Panel,
  • Memory leaks across the application,
  • Problem of slow quitting,

Documentation:

  • Addition of the Supported External Devices section,
  • Updated "Demos, Examples & Tutorials" in Storage area of the Designer Panel with a subsection Creating Custom Stimuli in the Techniques section.

Version 1.1.1 (Highly Recommended Update)   Released: January 20th, 2010

Critical Bug Fixed:

  • Prevent data loss due to too short experiment IDs.

Version 1.1   Released: December 2nd, 2009

New Features:

  • Full compatibility with Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard"),
  • Direct access to support, forum and feedback web pages from Help section,
  • Support for anaglyph stereo modes (Red-Green, Red-Blue, Red-Cyan glasses),
  • Support for dynamic micro-elements in Multi-Element Field (MEF),
  • Support for time-varying contrast and color space in dynamic elements in Multi-Element Field (MEF),
  • OpenGL preview and export to movie for Static & Timeline Composing,
  • Addition of [TRIAL] system-defined variable to keep track of the trial index (useful when creating brain mapping stimuli),
  • Addition of [NFC] system-defined variable to keep track of the target location in nFC procedure,
  • Addition of [NYQ], [FRATE], [WFOV] and [HFOV] system-defined constants,
  • Addition of round() function,
  • Addition of degtopix() and pixtodeg() functions (useful for stimuli control at pixel level),
  • Addition of deg() and rad() conversion functions between polar units,
  • Addition of cmin() and cmax() clamping functions,
  • Addition of rnd pseudo-constant to generate random real numbers in [0,1] range,
  • Support for onset trigger information output to serial devices (see stimulus control settings palette),

Feature Improvements:

  • Support for Staircase method with absolute step size,
  • Addition of optional maximum value constraint to Staircase parameter (clamping or abortion),
  • Number of reversals for estimation can now be specified in adaptive Adjustment procedure,
  • Addition of "Maximum Trials" termination criterion for Adjustment procedure,
  • Support for expression evaluation in trigger information output (see stimulus control settings palette),
  • Better detection and report of evaluation error (see tip tool with error in expression table for Custom stimuli),
  • Improved computation of time-varying stimuli that also change in size,
  • Better reports of frame timing information (# of missed frames reported as a warning on an event-basis),
  • Support for calibrating any available configuration (not only to the default one selected in the Display Preferences),
  • Removal of the display configuration in Calibration panel when deleting the last remaining calibration,
  • Estimation of required video memory when computing stimuli with an error message emitted if not enough memory available,
  • Improved handling of serial devices with a warning emitted when devices not enabled from I/O Preferences or experiment I/O Settings,

User interface improvements:

  • Addition of an optional linear vs log10 scale for x,y axes in result plots,
  • Data not plotted anymore outside the axes-defined rectangle in Plotter panel,
  • Axes range automatically selected based on available data points in Plotter panel,
  • Only display configurations valid for the currently attached monitors available in the Calibration panel,
  • Color of selected resolution and calibration in experiment display settings indicates up-to-date, expired or absence of calibrations,

Fixed:

  • Activation problem after setup under non-admin account,
  • Crash in calibration panel occurring when trying to calibrate a display configuration with a missing display,
  • Crash or unexpected behavior occurring when using [TIME] or [DURATION] as a parameters value,
  • Crash occurring when an unknown trigger device is specified in stimulus control settings palette (would occur when exporting an experiment to third-party),
  • stimulus control settings palette gets reset when changing the trigger device,
  • Memory leak with aborted sessions,
  • unlocked events undeletable until relaunch,
  • Read/write status of event properties not in sync with the lock icon across all the property panels,
  • Locking event from properties panel did not remain after closing the panel (permanent unlocking still done from the designer panel),
  • Experiment properties not all inspectable when locked,
  • Missing Help menu under Mac OS 10.4,
  • Slightly inaccurate Nyquist frequency,
  • Loss of fractional part in degree to pixel conversion,
  • Edge effects in some Grating and Checkerboard stimuli,
  • Too large wedge size unreliable in Checkerboard stimuli,
  • Tiny visual artefact at fixation produced during pre-stimulus random duration when measuring RT in procedure,
  • Non-sticking onset of selected event in Timeline (gets replaced from previously edited Timeline),
  • Synchronization problem between frame duration and some properties when editing events (Timeline onsets and TF precision in Dynamic Composing),
  • Displayed geometry information for a display configuration not always in sync with the latest calibration,
  • Undeletable calibration when clicking the '-' button in the calibration panel,
  • Issue when using the [TIME:?] and [DURATION:?] single expressions,
  • Loss in lower bits precision when using the irand function,

Documentation:

  • Addition of a Timing section,
  • Addition of Contrast Sensitivity Experiment Tutorials,
  • Addition of Retinotopic Mapping Stimulus Tutorial,
  • Addition of Field of Drifting Gabor Stimulus Tutorial,
  • Updated "Demos, Examples & Tutorials" in Storage area of the Designer Panel with a Techniques section.

Version 1.0 RC5   Released: June 5th, 2009

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 [$<varname>] 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 (<exp1>:<exp2>),
  • 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".

Version 1.0 RC4   Released: August 4th, 2008

New Features:

  • Addition of "Automatic" or "Self-Paced" option for triggering next trial through Keyboard or Mouse in Experiment Control Settings,

Feature Improvements:

  • Addition of submenus in Category popup menu in Designer panel, so the user knows what events each category provides,

Fixed:

  • Fix a problem with Stimulus Selection not always correctly reported in Results,
  • Fix a problem with Discrimination being limited to 3 decisions instead of the specified number (DiscN),
  • Fix highlighting of multiple parameters in Expression functions for Custom Stimuli,
  • Fix a problem with sound feedback not working correctly on some systems,
  • Proper reset of Control Settings in Palette when generating an experiment using the Wizard,
  • Fix crash that occurred with invalid or undefined keyboard inputs,

Version 1.0 RC3   Released: June 12th, 2008

New Features:

  • Support for vectorial to scalar functions (min, max, mean, sum) in Custom Stimuli Expressions,
  • Support for 9.6 or 10.8 bits monochromatic modes through Bit-Stealing,
  • Addition of Time-Limited Response and "Ends stimulus/trial" options in Trial Properties of Procedure panel,

Feature Improvements:

  • Support for Middle Mouse button (3rd button, eg: wheel button),
  • More information about display settings (resolution, calibration, screen) for the current session shown in the Experiment log,
  • Better Gamma correction for LCD displays that show a saturating transfer function (through rejection of saturating luminance readings),
  • Addition of more options for Multimedia Selection (Sequential, Random w/o repeat, Random & reshuffle),
  • Addition of [SELECTION] system-variable and "Selection" columns in the Trials section of the data table for the first level of the session results (to report stimulus selection in Multimedia),
  • Most recent "Stimuli, experiments and tutorials Examples" now automatically loaded in Storage area,

User interface improvements:

  • Addition of a Visual Indicator indicating the Geometry/Gamma/Color Calibration is in progress,
  • Valid variables highlighted in blue and invalid strings highlighted in red in Custom Stimulus Expressions,
  • Direction for radial and angular motion in RDK stimuli now specified through a popup menu (Inward/Outward, Clockwise/Anticlockwise),

Fixed:

  • Registration information correctly set in "About" box,
  • Quadrant shift now correctly applied when performing a 2D convolution in Fourier space (through conv function),
  • Display size now properly updated in Display Preferences when display index changes,
  • Fix a crash that occurred when Timeline event is a part of a Conditional or Association event,
  • ISI parameter in Trial properties of Procedure panel now correctly saved and retrieved,
  • Fix a crash that occurred when aborting the experiment during the very first trial,
  • Direction textfield and slider for uniform motion now correctly synchronized in RDK panel,
  • Fix complaint about session with similar index when changing the location of the Data folder,
  • Fix registration bug when clicking twice the Activation/Deactivation button,
  • Notes for previously run session not anymore overwritten by subsequent sessions,
  • Mapping of keys 1-9 from keypad now corrected,
  • NetStation Events Stream properties in Control palette not anymore reset when inspecting stimulus properties,

Version 1.0 RC2   Released: May 1st, 2008

New Features:

  • Support for comparison ( < > ≤ ≥ ≈ ≠ ) and logical ( & | ) operators in Expressions,
  • Statistics on frames duration and skipped frames now reported in the Experiment log drawer,
  • Addition of a checkbox in Onset settings to prevent the standard fixation mark to be displayed, for example when instructions are displayed,
  • Size of polygon shape stimuli can now be specified either as radius (center-to-corner) or side size,
  • Preview exporting supported in Static Composing (copy & image),

Feature Improvements:

  • Selection of Achromatic mode in Experiment Display Settings enforces now an achromatic conversion (R+G+B)/3 at rendering time,
  • Support for variable/expression-based position coordinates in Multimedia,
  • Both response (Hit, Miss) and subject's input (key/button naming) are now provided for each trial in the Trials section of the data table for the first level of the session results,
  • Condition and variables can now be easily duplicated in Conditions method by pressing the Control key and clicking on the '+' button,
  • Support for Conditional and Association composing in Timeline,
  • Support for both contrast (low/high) and luminance (dark/light) modes in RDK and MEF Stimuli,

User interface improvements:

  • Newly created events inside a group event are now automatically shown and selected,
  • Category created events inside a group event are now automatically shown and selected,
  • Calibration warning in Experiment display settings acts now as a button to reset the display settings,

Fixed:

  • Calibration uses now the resolution specified by the popup menu selection rather than the default one set in the Display Prefs,
  • Chromatic tri-stimulus values can be properly specified using variables and expressions,
  • Common properties correctly reset with default values when creating new stimulus,
  • Age of newly added subjects correctly initialized with default month.year birth date,
  • Title in Category column is now more clearly visible when selected,
  • Preview with contrast now correctly rendered when background color is not gray,
  • Combination of multiple criteria for decision made in Discrimination and Yes/No procedures now correctly evaluated,
  • Decision criteria in Discrimination and Yes/No procedures now correctly reset and initialized,
  • Chromatic Mode and Color Space set in Defaults Preferences are now kept consistent with each other,
  • Size parameter in Custom Stimuli can now be used in expressions.

Documentation:

  • Included tutorials also available online,
  • Tutorial entitled "Creating Filtered Noise Stimuli" added.

Version 1.0 RC1   Released: February 21, 2008

Release Candidate 1