19-10-2016, 04:38 PM
1459951406-biofbiofeedbackinstruments.pdf (Size: 854.59 KB / Downloads: 13)
Many older biofeedback instruments will not operate
with the latest computer operating systems, specifically
Windows XP or Vista. These older systems offer
continuing value for client training, and replacement
may be expensive. The author describes free software
that creates a virtual environment within the computer,
enabling older biofeedback systems to operate smoothly.
The article provides specifications for computer processors
and memory that enable the virtual environment to
operate and examples of biofeedback instruments that
have been tested and proved to operate well in the virtual
environment.
If you are using Windows XP or Vista as the operating
system in your personal computer, you may find that some
of your computerized biofeedback instruments can work
only with Windows 98. Here is a solution that may help
you to use your less-than-modern biofeedback machines
with your modern desktop computer. Virtual PC 2007 is
free software that allows users to run multiple operating
systems at once on a single physical computer and switch
between them using mouse clicks. The “virtual PC” or
“virtualization” is a concept developed since the 1990s,
and it allows computer developers to test new software
or hardware on a virtualized environment in real time
and in a cost-effective manner. Today, end users can use
the Virtual PC 2007 software to create separate virtual
machines on their Windows XP– or Vista-based desktop,
each of which virtualizes the hardware of a complete
physical computer.
The Microsoft Corporation states in its product
specifications that the Virtual PC 2007 should run under
the Windows XP Professional operating system. My
personal experience is that the Virtual PC works perfectly
with Windows XP Home, which is a simplified version of
Windows XP Professional. I tested Virtual PC 2007 software
using a desktop with Windows XP Home installed and
created a Windows 98–based virtual machine. This was done
by installing a genuine Windows 98 SE (guest operational system), using the Virtual PC 2007 software under the
Windows XP (host operational system).
Be aware that Windows 98 is not preinstalled in
Virtual PC 2007; if you have no Windows 98 installation
disk, it should not be difficult to get one in second-hand
markets.
With a few early-generation instruments in my hands
(Flexiplus PDL from Computerist, Inc.; the ProComp
from Thought Technology), the testing results have been
encouraging, as these instruments have worked properly
(Figure 1).
Based on my personal experience, if your desktop has
a central processing unit of 1.0 GHz and random access
memory of 750 MB, or is better equipped, the use of the
software should be quite smooth. Otherwise, the operation
of the computer would become impractically slow.
The Virtual PC 2007 can be downloaded at http://www.
microsoftwindows/products/winfamily/virtualpc.
Conclusion
This article is intended for information only; different
computers with a variety of hardware may produce diverse
results. If you try different biofeedback programs with a
virtual machine, please feel free to let me know your success
or failure. I will create a homepage as a contact point for
further information on this theme.