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Cognitive Psychology: Attention · Decision making · Learning · Judgement · Memory · Motivation · Perception · Reasoning · Thinking - Cognitive processes Cognition - Outline Index
A tachistoscope is an apparatus that displays (usually by projecting) an image for a specific amount of time. It can be used to increase recognition speed, to show something too fast to be consciously recognized, or to test which elements of an image are memorable. Actual tachistoscopes use a slide or overhead projector equipped with the mechanical shutter shutter system typical of a camera. The slide is loaded, the shutter locked open, and focusing and aligment are adjusted, then the shutter is closed. When ready for the test, a shutter speed is selected, and the shutter is tripped normally.
The first tachistoscope was originally described by the German physiologist A.W. Volkmann in 1859. It was also used during WWII in the training of fighter pilots to help them identify aircraft silhouettes as friend or foe.
Before personal_computers became ubiquitous, tachistoscopes were used extensively in psychological research to present visual stimuli for contare the visual impact, or memorability of marketing materials or packaging designs. Tachistscopes used for this purpose are typically still based around slide projectors rather than computer monitors, due to (1) the increased fidelity of the image which can be displayed in this way and (2) the opportunity to show large or life-size images.
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- Winnick, W.A. and Daniel, S.A. (1970) Two kinds of response priming in tachistoscope recognition, Journal of Experimental Psychology 84: 74-81.
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External links[]
- How to Build and Use a Tachistoscope
- WordUp, a java-based tachistoscope
- Freeware: online Tachistoscope
- Freeware: Reading Acceleration Machine, for Windows
- Swiftword, a windows-based tachistoscope
- Flashmeter, a Tachistoscope program
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