Glossary Item Box
Elements are the smallest units where one or more elements make up one stimulus. Some elements may be labeled Target elements where each target has to be reached according to a specific sequence. Properties of elements can be changed when the pen reaches it.
* Create Stimulus Elements (Targets)
* Element Properties & Features
* Stimulus Elements as Interactive Targets
Create Stimulus Elements
A Stimulus consists of one or several stimulus elements. A stimulus element can be:
1. A Geometrical shape, as defined by stimulus properties.
2. A drawing or handwriting pattern recorded previously from an existing experiment trial.
3. An existing Bitmap file.
If you have not created/added elements during new stimulus:
o You can create a new element by navigating to 'Elements' on the left tree window > right click > create new.
o Then you can add the element by: select the stimulus you want to add it to > right click add elements.
You can also add elements by: select the stimulus > right click > properties > click '+' > select the element(s) from the master list and click 'add'. Note that the elements that are already added will not be displayed in the list.
Element can be created as a shape, a previously recorded pattern or a bitmap file. The following two points are common for all options.
o The element will be a target: A stimulus element can be a target (i.e., the pen has to reach all targets in a certain sequence during a trial). If this option is unchecked, it cannot be added to a target use/sequence list in the stimulus, but will be simply displayed on the screen.
o Start time(s) and Duration: A dynamic element which appears at a certain start time and is displayed for a specified duration, can be defined using this option. The start time and the duration are measured from the start time of the stimulus.
EXAMPLE: If start time = 0 sec and duration = 5 sec, then the element appears immediately after the stimulus starts and disappears after 5 sec from the start of stimulus. The option 'Indefinite' is default and implies that the element will appear throughout the life of the stimulus it is added to.
1. To Use a shape: Geometrical shapes can be rectangles or lines or circles with line colors, fill colors, text font, size, and colors. The other shapes can be used from a bitmap file.
o In the General tab, choose the option 'Use a shape'.
o In the Dimensions tab, fill the element attributes.
2. To Use a pattern: A pattern can be created as the element from an existing trial.
o In the General tab, choose the option 'use pattern(data file)'.
o In the Pattern tab, select the pattern to be used.
3. To Use a Bitmap file:
o In the General tab, browse for the bitmap file and click 'OK'.
o In the Dimensions tab, select the X and Y coordinates for the element to be displayed. The size of the element will be as defined by the bitmap file. So when you make the bitmap file, drag the borders of the canvas to fit in the image.
o You can use the following procedure to create a bitmap file in MS paint brush.
~ Start menu > programs > accessories > paint brush.
~ File > New file > Create the required image.
~ Using the cropping tool, make sure that there is no white (canvas) border (the whole .bmp file will be used as the element).
~ File > save as > <name>.bmp
~ You can then use the <name>.bmp file as the .bmp source file in Movalyzer.
Stimulus Elements as Interactive Targets
o The Main/Initial Appearance of the element changes to the Successful Target Appearance when you reach the target according to the Target Use/Sequence specified in the Stimulus Properties.
o The Main/Initial Appearance of the element changes into the Incorrect Target Appearance when you reach the target NOT according to the Target Use/Sequence specified in the Stimulus Properties.
NOTE: In cases where you have the same target multiple times (ie, overlapping), the underlying targets will not be considered "reached" until the pen has exited the overlapping target and the underlying target re-entered. Sequential targets that slightly overlap do not conform to this idea, however. If, for example, target 2 begins 1/2 way through target 1, target 2 will be considered "reached" even if the pen has not completely left target 1.
EXAMPLE 1 : Learning Sequence of Aiming Targets
General | Dimensions | Appearance | ||||
Successful Target | Incorrect Target | |||||
Element ID | Description | Target | Center X (cm) | Center Y (cm) | Fill Color | Text |
TA1 | Target1 | v | 12 | 7.5 | Gray | X |
TA2 | Target2 | v | 11.41 | 8.91 | Gray | X |
TA3 | Target3 | v | 10 | 9.5 | Gray | X |
TA4 | Target4 | v | 8.59 | 8.91 | Gray | X |
TA5 | Target5 | v | 8 | 7.5 | Gray | X |
TA6 | Target6 | v | 8.59 | 6.09 | Gray | X |
TA7 | Target7 | v | 10 | 5.5 | Gray | X |
TA8 | Target8 | v | 11.41 | 6.09 | Gray | X |
HOM | Home | v | 10 | 7.5 | Gray | X |
NOTE: RGB coordinates of Gray are 192,192,192 by default. NOTE: Incorrect Target Text is X by default. Combine all of these elements into one stimulus.
EXAMPLE 2 : Roset
Example of the elements used to build a stimulus consisting of 8 targets of size 0.2cm (square) in a circle at distance of 2 cm from a 0.4 cm home position in the middle of a 8"x6" (20.32cm x 15.24cm) digitizer (1"=2.54cm). Other common digitizer sizes are 5"x3.65", 9"X12".
o HINT1: Create one element first and use right-click particular element > Duplicate to create the other elements.
o HINT2: Chart an element or stimulus in real size by right-clicking a particular stimulus or element > Display, followed by pressing Stop Recording/Processing.
o HINT3: To exit charting a stimulus (element), click the red stop-button on the top menu bar.
o HINT4: Other font sizes than 8-72 can be typed manually.
General Dimensions Appearance Main/Initial Element ID Description Center X (cm) Center Y (cm) Text Fill Color T01 Target1 12 7.5 1 Green T02 Target2 11.41 8.91 2 Green T03 Target3 10 9.5 3 Green T04 Target4 8.59 8.91 4 Green T05 Target5 8 7.5 5 Green T06 Target6 8.59 6.09 6 Green T07 Target7 10 5.5 7 Green T08 Target8 11.41 6.09 8 Green TAH Home 10 7.5 h Red NOTE: RGB coordinates for Green are 128,255,128 and for Red are 255,162,162.
EXAMPLE 3 : Lined paper
o Example of the elements used to produce a lined paper with the standard pitch of 0.7 mm
General Pattern Appearance Main/Initial Element ID Description Center X (cm) Center Y (cm) 1/2 X size (cm) 1/2 Y size (cm) Line Size Line Color LH1 Line1 10.16 11.9 10.16 0 1 Blue LH2 Line2 10.16 11.2 10.16 0 1 Blue LH3 Line3 10.16 10.5 10.16 0 1 Blue LH4 Line4 10.16 9.8 10.16 0 1 Blue LH5 Line5 10.16 9.1 10.16 0 1 Blue LH6 Line6 10.16 8.4 10.16 0 1 Blue LH7 Line7 10.16 7.7 10.16 0 1 Blue LV1 Vertical1 2.54 7.62 0 7.62 2 Red LV2 Vertical2 17.78 7.62 0 7.62 1 Red
NOTE: RGB coordinates for Blue are 179,217,255 and for Red are 245,179,255.
See Also |
NSHelp: Stimuli | Stimulus Editor | Element Pattern | Element Dimensions | Element Appearance | Element Results | Element Animation
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