title: Automated vision occlusion-timing instrument for perception-action research.
abstract: Vision occlusion spectacles are a highly valuable instrument for visual-perception-action research in a variety of disciplines. In sports, occlusion spectacles have enabled invaluable knowledge to be obtained about the superior capability of experts to use visual information to guide actions within in-situ settings. Triggering the spectacles to occlude a performer's vision at a precise time in an opponent's action or object flight has been problematic, due to experimenter error in using a manual buttonpress approach. This article describes a new laser curtain wireless trigger for vision occlusion spectacles that is portable and fast in terms of its transmission time. The laser curtain can be positioned in a variety of orientations to accept a motion trigger, such as a cricket bowler's arm that distorts the lasers, which then activates a wireless signal for the occlusion spectacles to change from transparent to opaque, which occurs in only 8 ms. Results are reported from calculations done in an electronics laboratory, as well as from tests in a performance laboratory with a cricket bowler and a baseball pitcher, which verified this short time delay before vision occlusion. In addition, our results show that occlusion consistently occurred when it was intended-that is, near ball release and during mid-ball-flight. Only 8% of the collected data trials were unusable. The laser curtain improves upon the limitations of existing vision occlusion spectacle triggers, indicating that it is a valuable instrument for perception-action research in a variety of disciplines.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brenton
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, 6150, Australia. s.muller@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: B3 Electronic Design Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Robbie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.affiliation: B3 Electronic Design Pty Ltd, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Finch
mesh_terms: D001484:Baseball / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005139:Eyeglasses; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Automatic trigger; Laser curtain; Vision occlusion spectacles; Wireless