This Department is purchasing several pieces of equipment to: (a) support recent curricular changes, (b) replace antiquated existing equipment and (c) allow majors access to research experiences that are difficult or impossible to obtain with current holdings. There are four basic types of equipment: (1) audio equipment -- a 6W speech analysis system and Ensonique sound synthesis system to allow students to modify and analyze human speech, environmental, musical, and animal sounds in a wide variety of course and independent research settings; (2) video equipment -- the Gerbrand presentation system and Coreco Image processor to allow students to create, flexibly present, and analyze visual images for the study of human cognition and perception; (3) the Biocomp 2001 to allow students to measure the physiological indices of arousal relevant to both biological psychology and social-personality; (4) artificial intelligence -- a Hero 2000 robot and NEXPERT expert system shell to allow students research experience with two of the most burgeoning areas of inquiry in science today -- robotics and artificial intelligence. The Department has already had considerable success with its research- oriented approach. The proposed equipment allows the Department to fully implement this approach.
