Critical Bug Fixed:

• Prevent data loss due to too short experiment IDs.

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.

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".

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,

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,

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.

Release Candidate 1