Using the NEMO Experiment Client
The Experiment Client allows authenticated users to run experiments through the NEMO server.
Starting Up
When running the Experiment Client the initial screen shows a file menu, a toolbar, an experiment properties panel, a chat panel, an output panel, and a status panel.
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| The initial user interface |
The file menu and toolbar provide the ability to start and join experiment and then to configure them.
The experiment properties panel display information about the current experiment. As each piece of informatin is obtained, the panel will update to display it.
The chat panel displays chat messages to and from other participants in the experiment. The chat feature becomes enabled once you start or join an experiment.
The output panel displays various notes about the progress of the client.
The client status panel shows the particpating operators and the status of their progress.
Logging In
Selecting the Login menu item from the File menu will open a dialog prompting you for a username and password. The login dialog will also open when either Start Exp or Join Exp is pressed.
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| The login prompt |
The username and password must match information on the NEMO server to be authenticated.
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| Verifying with server |
If authentication fails, then you will be notified and prompted to try again. If authentication succeeds, then you will be allowed to monitor or replay an experiment.
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| The login attempt failed |
If login problems persist, contact the administrator of the NEMO server to which you're trying to connect.
After a successful login, the experiment properties panel will show you as the Operator. You can double-click the Operator entry on the experiment properties panel to open an informational user card.
Participating in an Experiment
The button on the toolbar labeled Start Exp and the menu item Experiment -> Start new... allow you to start an experiment of a selected type. When you press the button you will be prompted to login if you have not done so already. Once login credentials are established, a dialog window will prompt you for some information.
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| Dialog to start an experiment |
First, enter a name for your experiment in the text box to the right of "Start an experiment". Second, select an experiment type from the list. Finally, press OK. A progress dialog will open while the experiment is set up on the server side. This may take a while, and the progress bar will reset several times before it closes.
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| The server connection progress dialog |
The experiment properties dialog will update to show the experiment type and name you just selected.
Alternatively, you may want to join an experiment that was started by another person. Press the Join Exp button or select Experiment -> Join... to open the experiment selection dialog. (Note that you may be asked to login first.)
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| Dialog to join an experiment... Nothing to join here! |
Note that there may not be anything in the dialog to select if there are no experiments waiting for participants.
Once you have started or joined an experient more menu items and buttons on the toolbar should be enabled for you to use. These buttons allow you to set the current location, pick the IRB, configure any devices (then initialize them), register a subject, and set the status (present, prepped, in scanner, and ready). Before you can start an experiment you will have to perform each of the actions represented by these buttons. Some actions only become enabled once other actions have been completed. For example, you cannot initialize the devices until you have configured them.
You will need to pick a location by pressing the Location button or by selecting Experiment -> Select location... A dialog will open. Select the correct location. Press OK.
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| Location selection |
You will need to pick an IRB by pressing the IRB button or by selecting Experiment -> Select IRB... A dialog will open. Select the correct IRB. Press OK.
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| IRB selection |
You will need to configure the devices. Prerss the Configure button or select Experiment -> Devices -> Configure... to open the Device Configuration Wizard.
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| Device Configuration Wizard |
After configuring the devices you will need to initialize the devices. Simply press the Initialize button or select Experiment -> Devices -> Initialize.
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| Device initialization button on toolbar |
You will need to register a subject. Press the Register button or select Experiment -> Register Subject... to open the subject registration dialog. Enter a first and last name, the subject's date of birth (using the format labeled above the fields), and select the subject's gender and ethnicity.
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| Subject registration |
The status buttons on the toolbar are used to help notify other participants in an experiment (if any exist) of your progress. As you select a status, the next status level becomes enabled. Press each status button as necessary. (The In Scanner button is not related to any actual scanner, so you should press it even if there is no scanner being used for the experiment.)
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| Subject status buttons |
When everything else has been done, the Start button will become enabled. Press it to tell the server to start the experiment. If there are multiple participants in the experiment, then the experiment will not start until everyone has pressed Start.
When the experiment starts, the display will open in a separate window (and may be full screen, if it has been configured as such). You may need to click on the new window to give it focua and bring it to the front of the monitor.
When the experiment reaches it's end, the display window for the task will close. At that time, you can press Leave Exp to leave the experiment.
Note: You can exit the client at any point, but the experiment will end at that point and any data collected will be stored by the server.
Device Configuration
The server tells the client which devices will be used in a given experiment. Each participant in the experiment must configure the devices to work at their location. To this end, the Device Configuration Wizard allows you to configure each device one at a time. The Device Configuration Wizard opens in response to pressing the Configure button or the Experiment -> Devices -> Configure... menu item. When the wizard opens press Next to configure the first device.
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| Device Configuration Wizard |
After picking the desired settings, press Next to get to the next device. After configuring the last device, a final screen will appear.
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| Device Configuration Wizard |
You can press the Export button to save the current device settings for this experiment to a file. This file can then be imported by using the Import button, which can be found on the very first screen of the Device Configuration Wizard.
Press Finish to submit the settings and return the the main window.
To learn more about devices and experiment scripting, see this page.