Facilities

Location:

019 Adeilad Lloyd
Bangor University
Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, UK
 

Floorplan:

BLPLLayout.jpg

 

Testing booth specs:

Capacity:

2 booths x (1 participant + 1 investigator per booth)

Sound-attenuation:

Booths are acoustically isolated from each other and from the outside world (~ -60dB within each booth) to prevent outside stimuli from contaminating experiments, and maximize signal-to-noise ratio for recording and auditory perception

Computers:

2 x Intel i3 desktop with discrete graphics and sound, and non-networked modes for data collection and networked modes for data backup

Monitors:

2 x 17" 160Hz CRT monitor for millisecond accuracy in visual display timing (unfortunately, even fast-responding LCDs still do not offer temporal precision because they fail to sync their refresh times with the computer)

Microphones:

2 x Shure SM10a headmounted

Audio recorders:

2 x Marantz PMD-661; recordings combine input from the microphone with input from the computer, allowing us to verify timings offline

Voicekeys:

2 x Custom-built, based on Tyler et al's (2005, BRM) Delayed Trigger Voice Key, for maximum sensitivity when detecting of speech onsets with minimal vulnerability to lipsmacks

Experiment-running software:

PsychoPy and E-Prime, by default; reconfigurable to any PC-based software, subject to hardware requirements and user expertise

Other:

1 x each of the above items (except the PC and soundbooth), so that research can continue if any part should fail, and we can easily expand while maintaining standard hardware



In-lab workspace specs:

Capacity:

4 people, comfortably

Windows:

1

Computers:

1 x Intel i5 for computationally intensive tasks

1 x Intel i3 for normal work

All lab computers are named after very low-frequency mammals.

Monitors:

2 x 21" LCD monitors

Expansion:

2 x spaces for students to bring their own laptops

Data backup:

1 x 6TB NAS

Laminator:

1 x

Label maker:

1 x

Decoration:

6 x Soviet work posters, with inspirational messages such as, "Love books, they are the source of knowledge," and "Work does not stop at night."

Other:

Workspace is isolated from the testing rooms so that participants coming and going should neither distract us nor see what we're working on behind the scenes