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Test lab 7

This test lab is primarily used for research into fine motor control and the haptic perception (recognizing objects through touch) of, for example, orientation.

Equipment
The lab is equipped with a fixed and a mobile setup, including a writing tablet with two wireless pens, to measure fine motor control. The tablet is linked to a PC in the fixed setup, and to a laptop in the mobile setup. The computer registers the position of the pen(s) every 10 milliseconds. Different variables can thus be calculated using OASIS software, such as the speed of the movements, the time participants are engaged in the task, and when and for how long they stop.
The lab also offers a fixed and a mobile haptic setup which can be used to measure the haptic observing and replicating of orientation. In addition, it is equipped with a treadmill for research into the effects of physical exercise on perception.

Application
Using the writing tablet, researchers can measure the pen pressure used by children and adults while drawing or writing. The test participants can be given a variety of uni- and bimanual tasks in such experiments. The tablet is also used, for example, to examine when children develop right- or left-handedness.
An example of haptic research is the haptic perception of orientation. This involves a blindfolded test participant seated at a table; on the table, to the participant’s left and right, is a plate with a rotating bar. The participant feels for the position of the test bar with one hand, and must place a second bar parallel to the first with the other hand. The large variation shown by practically all participants suggests that this task is quite difficult: what participants perceive as parallel appears to deviate considerably from reality.
In this lab, research is also carried out into the effects of complexity on test participants’ response and stop time when performing fine motor movements. Additionally, experiments measure participants’ sequential movements, with the aim of studying how people learn sequences. An example is the experiment in which participants have to find their way through a maze with their eyes closed.
 
Last modified: Fri, 07/10/2016 - 12:26

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