The poster will describe the more technical aspects of the experiments described in the oral presentation at the meeting by Iversen & Matsuzawa [1]. The touch-sensitive monitor delivers an (x, y) pair at a given time interval and represents the location touched. Algorithms for how to present graphical symbols at the touched location for drawing will be presented along with demonstrations of detailed path analyses. For drawing and tracing, various algorithms have been implemented to determine on-line whether or not a drawing on a given trial should be reinforced. Examples will illustrate these automated contingencies of reinforcement. Methods for presenting the data will also be illustrated along with examples of direct control of a laser printer from the programming language. For experiments that involve object movement, algorithms will be presented for how one arranges for objects on the monitor to be moved in accordance with finger movement on the monitor. Programming of fingermaze training involved the implementation of algorithms that prevented the moved object from penetrating obstacles. Last, object sorting involved development of algorithms for automatic detection of object grouping. Examples will illustrate various aspects of the off-line data analysis of drawing and object movement paths. All programming for these experiments was accomplished with QuickBASIC 4.5.

References

1. Iversen, I.H.; Matsuzawa, T. (1998). Automated training of line drawing and object movement (in fingermaze and sorting tasks) on a touch-sensitive monitor in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). This volume.