Hi,
I want to follow up on some recent postings to this list
and ask a question about the future of using PTB for OS X to run visual
experiments.
On March 20, Gergely Csibra explained how the "Flip" function works
and how it doesn't actually synchronize with the vertical retrace.
A few days later, Daniel Shima is shopping around for G4 Macs that run
OS9,
apparently because the ability to synchronize with the vertical retrace
is essential,
and still only available in PTB 2.55 for OS9.
In my own lab, I still only use PTB for OS9 to run experiments, ... for
the same reason.
My observation is that synching with the vertical retrace for precise
timing and synchronization
is considered very important to many PTB users.
My question is whether there are any realistic prospects for seeing
this functionality implemented
in PTB for OS X any time soon.
I recognize that it is a technical challenge, and OpenGL doesn't seem
to make it easy.
... but I wonder if there might be any Apple engineers who could be
contacted to find a solution.
Apple does seem responsive to customer needs. They optimized low-level
math routines (BLAS)
that are included in the latest MATLAB 7.0.4 update. They are also
hiring OpenGL programmers
because the DOOM 3 benchmarks were unimpressive. ... now if only we
could connect
with someone who wants to help experimenters who need precise
synchronization.
I hope that Denis and/or Allen might be able to share their thoughts on
this.
I presume many labs are wondering whether to have summer students
program using PTB for OS9 or migrate to PTB for OSX if the frame synch
functionality
might be implemented early in the summer ...
-- David Jones
I want to follow up on some recent postings to this list
and ask a question about the future of using PTB for OS X to run visual
experiments.
On March 20, Gergely Csibra explained how the "Flip" function works
and how it doesn't actually synchronize with the vertical retrace.
A few days later, Daniel Shima is shopping around for G4 Macs that run
OS9,
apparently because the ability to synchronize with the vertical retrace
is essential,
and still only available in PTB 2.55 for OS9.
In my own lab, I still only use PTB for OS9 to run experiments, ... for
the same reason.
My observation is that synching with the vertical retrace for precise
timing and synchronization
is considered very important to many PTB users.
My question is whether there are any realistic prospects for seeing
this functionality implemented
in PTB for OS X any time soon.
I recognize that it is a technical challenge, and OpenGL doesn't seem
to make it easy.
... but I wonder if there might be any Apple engineers who could be
contacted to find a solution.
Apple does seem responsive to customer needs. They optimized low-level
math routines (BLAS)
that are included in the latest MATLAB 7.0.4 update. They are also
hiring OpenGL programmers
because the DOOM 3 benchmarks were unimpressive. ... now if only we
could connect
with someone who wants to help experimenters who need precise
synchronization.
I hope that Denis and/or Allen might be able to share their thoughts on
this.
I presume many labs are wondering whether to have summer students
program using PTB for OS9 or migrate to PTB for OSX if the frame synch
functionality
might be implemented early in the summer ...
-- David Jones