Web- and Multimedia Technologies are used and offered for different applications.

The Patient PC is a multimedia PC and is able to integrate components of text, picture, video and sound in one computer whereby it becomes possible to generate archives and presentations. The co-ordination of all these components is ultimately controlled by the GRID and a relevant software package through which the whole application is developed. These applications can then be used to sequentially control the presentation of visual and acoustic stimuli. The data for stimulation as pictures, sound and video are stored as objects in the database. 

The time course of the test can be described in a user friendly manner in a test table. Trial-No., the name of the stimulus object, the required reaction, the duration of the stimulus and the stimulus interval can be written in the table and can be manipulated by the qualified user. During the course of the experiment, the experimenter can open a window with a list of test names from the test-battery, click on the test name with the mouse and start the test.

One example demonstrate the possibilities of the system by using multimedia technologies:

We have realised an experiment with n = 50 subjects to evaluate the new device and strategy. 10 different N1/P2 and P3 paradigms have been used in this experiment [8, 21-23]. The following example was arranged in the form of three tests in reading, listening and picture recognition and was used for the evaluation of the forming of  concepts (Begriffsbildung). Every test consisted of 150 trials. The patient had to make a decision choice in each respective trial as to whether the stimulus represented a number (e. g. "3") or an object (e. g. "Axt" - "axe") or living creature (e. g. "Löwe" - "lion"), by pressing the corresponding left or right button. The actual proportion was 20% numbers to 80% creatures and objects (oddball paradigm).

The stimulus material for all three tests although rearranged is kept identical in notions of total test content and is stored as picture or sound-file in an object-oriented data base. Because of the constructed system's capacity and flexibility the tests can be carried out and finished within 20 mins.

Test 1:   Perception of reading stimulus

The stimulus (number, object or creature) was presented on the screen as its written word.

Test 2:   Perception of sound stimulus

The stimulus was delivered through a spoken word. With the help of a microphone and a sound board the words in the stimulus data are recorded. The sound data can then be arranged with the wave form editor for example to produce a constant play time duration. Furthermore it is possible to modify the sound with the addition of echoes and a range of sound-filters.

Test 3:    Perception of picture stimulus

The stimulus was provided as a picture. Numbers are presented as their Arabic numeral. The picture material was prepared with a picture data base and a graphic program.  External picture material was also obtained and integrated into the test with the use of a scanner.