Fifth-generation research tools: Collaborative development with PowerLaboratory

The technology available for behavioral research Limits the scope of the field. Yet we cannot expect personal computer manufacturers to be particularly concerned with real-time computing for such a niche market. The current, fourth generation of software tools is ''old'' technology, unable to take advantage of newer desktop technology like multimedia. Fifth-generation research tools, such as Power-Laboratory, will comprise software and hardware that overcome many of the limitations inherent in the fourth generation's tools. For example, PowerLaboratory's graphical programming interface resolves some of these limitations and also provides an advanced, verifiable, millisecond-accurate research tool that opens the discipline to multimedia as well as traditional stimuli. PowerLaboratory users have the option to create or link up a custom code extension (PLEX), and an Internet site provides for support and peer-reviewed protocol and PLEX publication. The purpose of this site is supporting open collaboration, which is seen as a requirement for advancing the technological capabilities of the discipline.