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Mark Torrance edited this page Dec 15, 2016 · 17 revisions

Capturing Devices

Capturing handwriting using GetWrite requires devices that make use of the WinTab driver / API. Generally there are two groups of devices that can be used:

  1. Digitizing tablets are external devices that usually get connected to a host PC via USB. These kind of devices provide the most 'natural' writing situation, as it's possible to attach a sheet of paper to the surface and use an inking pen. Though, the use of paper limits the scope of applications, i.e. the paper has to be firmly attached to the surface and if, e.g. a participant is asked to write a story, one sheet of paper may not be sufficient. Changing the paper during an ongoing experiment is not recommended. The Wacom Intuos pen tablets may serve as a widely used example, but also digitizing tablets by other manufacturers may be used as long as they make use of the WinTab driver (what they usually do).

  2. In TabletPCs (as e.g. Microsoft Surface) the display is at the same time the writing surface. Usually, these are smoother, compared to paper (although it is possible to make use of special pen tips for some models), and participants have to amend their writing to these circumstances (Gerth, et al. 2016a, 2016b). The digitizers built into the TabletPCs usually have lower spatial and temporal resolution than external devices, except for pen displays. On the other hand all kinds of stimuli (even moving targets) can be shown directly on the surface/display, and page breaks and multiple trials are possible. In addition, tabletPCs are often more partable.

A third kind of input device are smartpens (e.g. Anoto) and microdotted paper. These are not supported by GetWrite, however, existing data collected e.g. by HandSpy can be analysed using the OpenHandWrite tool MarkWrite.

Using GetWrite

There are currently three ways to collect handwriting data using GetWrite.

  1. WintabTest
  2. Experiment Template
  3. PsychoPy Builder example

WintabTest is the simplest, yet least flexible way to collect data. If you just want a fullscreen window without any stimuli and ruling you can use wintabtest right out of the box.

The Experiment Template can be used as is, but is meant as a showcase of what is possible by using the template. If you want to display visual and/or auditorial stimuli and collect data, you can take the Template, alter it in your desired way and run your experiment. In the future there will also be more templates based on this. For more information see the Experiment Template page.

Another way to set up an experiment is to use the PsychoPy Builder. The options for creating an experiment are manyfold but also need a longer period of vocational adjustment. Detailed instructions about this tool are on our to-do-list.

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