Eye-Tracker Stuff

Manual is in the lab share - ASL Eye Tracker Manuals

Misc.:

• leave docking station for scanner laptop at scanner
• plug projector into gray scan converter box which then plugs into docking station on laptop

To show calibration stuff on laptop:

• In the start menu go to ProgramsApplied Science LaboratoriesDisplay Target Points
• moving the mouse on the laptop will show crosshairs on the tracker display
• On the tracker computer go to the Calibrate drop-down menu (or the icon with the 9 target points)

• click on the computer screen such that the crosshairs are over the center of each target on the tracker monitor (should only have to do this the first time we use the tracker)

To calibrate eye:

• connect cable to serial out port on the docking station
• make sure tracker computer is set to serial mode: 57600
• check the Auto-Discriminate box
• the crosshairs on the tracker monitor are purposefully offset a little from the pupil
• click Calibrate or the icon with the eye on it
• click the ‘Save Location’ button to progress through the dots

How to record data (using Matlab on the scanner laptop):

• Type write_parallel(64) to open data file
• type write_parallel(192) to start recording
• 192-255 will keep the 6th and 7th bits flipped—have to have a 1, 1 for each

• anything below 64 will close the data file
• 192 + x = 64 + x

• to open serial port: s = serial(‘COM1’, ‘BaudRate’, 57600);

[T] I’ve found it’s easiest to use “auto file config” → “auto file open” to “off”, and manually create/name your files.  use “auto record” instead. make sure, if you do this, that the write_parallel for “stop record” (0, etc) is sent before exiting the stim program, otherwise eyetracker will continue to record data well after scanner is off (until you send a write_parallel with 6th bit = 0)

Contact info for eye-tracker guy:

William (Bill) Vaugh

Office: 781-275-4000

Direct Line: 765-692-0323 (usually on the road, so best to call this one)

Wvaugh@asleyetracking.com

Misc Tips:

-if eye tracking is noisy (crosshairs jumping everywhere), try increasing the aperture and, in ASL software, under Auto-discrim Config dialog, use more intense illumination conditions - this raises the threshold for CR & pupil recognition, which tends to denoise things a bit

- when planning scans, include 2 mins b/w each run at least for eyetracker setup & adjustment, and at least 10 mins initial setup time and teardown time (if you’re practiced or have an extra set of hands - these * 1.5 if not)