We describe here additional developing
laboratory facilities that support the research efforts of Cognitive Scientists
in the communications, philosophy, and English Departments. These are the
Communicative Disorders Laboratory and the Humanities Instructional and
Research Facilities
1. Communicative Disorders Laboratories
Both the highest neurological level of information flow as well as the lowest physiological level of speaking must be examined in order to understand language process. Individuals in Cognitive Science need to have a deep understanding of language and speech. The instrumentation in the CODI laboratories can serve to this end.
b. Audiological Laboratory. The Audiological Laboratory consists of an Industrial Acoustic Corporation two-room suite with double patient room for hearing, testing, and recording of the speech and language signal. This laboratory is equipped with the following:
ii. Grason-Stadler GSI Middle Ear Analyzer, Version 2, (220/660 HZ) with computer interface for evaluation of middle ear functioning.
iii. Nicolet model CA2000 comprehensive electro-diagnostic system with dot-matrix printer/plotter for recording auditory evoked potentials.
iv. Fonix 6500 Realtime Hearing Aid Test chamber with Quik-Probe Microplan Option for evaluating hearing aid function.
vi. Life Tech, Model DLB-4 Programmable Digital Light Bar to evaluate vestibular system functioning.
vii. Brookler-Grams closed loop irrigator including time delay module to test vestibular system functioning.
viii. Life Tech Dual Channel Electronystagmograph to test vestibular system functioning.
ix. A multipurpose exam chair for ENG, ABR, and EMG.
x. Grason-Stadler Model GSI 10 Clinical Audiometer equipped with Bekesay computer interface and sound field system to evaluate hearing in children and adults.
ii. IL088 Otoacoustic Emissions Screening System with 48-color Notebook Computer for faster hearing test.
iii. Nicolet Compass Portabook Portable Evoke Response (ABR) Screener, with desk-jet printer and cart.
iv. Four Grason-Stadler GSI-17 Portable Audiometers
v. Welch Allyn Microtymp-2 (hand-held middle ear screener to evaluate middle ear functioning).
vi. Welch Allyn Audioscope (hand-held audiometric screener).
vii. Grason-Stadler GSI-37 Portable Auto Tymp (Automated middle ear analyzers).
viii. Grason-Stadler GSI-38 Auto Tymp Version 3.
Recent equipment purchases at USL have provided the College of Liberal Arts with state-of-the-art instructional facilities and multimedia support for research and instruction. Resources currently include the Folklore Archives Laboratory and the Humanities Resource Center, and as of Fall 1995, the Humanities Learning Center and the Humanities Computer Classroom. Collectively, these resources significantly enhance instruction and research in many disciplines. Specific to the Cognitive Science program, these resources will provide language data for research on computer-mediated communication and pedagogy.
b. Humanities Resource Center. The Humanities Resource Center has multimedia equipment available for classroom use including television towers with VCR and laser disk player, CD/ Cassette player/recorders, and projectors. The lab includes a Microtek Scan Maker 600z color scanner, HP Scan Jet IIp, Microtek Scan Maker 1850 (slide scanner), Polaroid Slide/Transparency Maker, HP Laser Jet 4m, Epson LQ-1170, and HP Color Jet. Software includes major wordprocessing, desktop publishing, hypercard, and multimedia systems.
c. Humanities Learning Center. The Humanities Learning Center consists of 25 networked workstations, server, and instructor’s station with CD-ROM multimedia bundle. Peripherals include 7 printers (5 laser) and color flatbed scanner with OCR software, and projection display panel. There is also instructional software for foreign languages, logic, linguistics, and composition, and special facilities for physically disabled individuals.