The Extended Maxwellian View (BIGMAX) : A high-intensity, high-saturation color display for clinical diagnosis and vision research

• Published in: Behavior research methods Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 513 - 521
• Main Authors: BEER, R. Dirk, MACLEOD, Donald I. A, MILLER, Timothy P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Austin, TX Psychonomic Society 01.08.2005; Psychonomic Society, Inc
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Color; Computer Graphics; Computers; Eyes & eyesight; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Methodology. Experimentation; Models, Biological; Projectors; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychometrics. Statistics. Methodology; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Video boards; Vision, Ocular; Visual Perception; Human; Eye disease; Image resolution; Intensity; Saturation; Vision disorder; Vision; Color; Perception; Diagnosis; Research
• ISSN: 1554-351X; 1554-3528
• DOI: 10.3758/bf03192722

We describe a device that can display very high intensity (up to 400,000 cd/m2), high-resolution visual stimuli. The device is inexpensive, is easily controlled by a conventional computer and video card, and can be calibrated for use in vision research or clinical applications. The display is capable of presenting highly saturated, near spectral colors. Unlike Maxwellian view optical systems, our display can be viewed binocularly and does not require exacting head restraint. We describe the construction, give a design example, and describe our calibration procedure. Furthermore, we report measurements of the color gamut, spatial resolution, temporal characteristics, and the dynamic range of light intensity.