PSYDATA HARDWARE
PsyData requires both the therapist and client to
be able to make entries and see the computer display. There are several
ways to do this:
- Two connected notebook computers. The computers
are connected with a cable, and communicate with each other via a communication
program. This works great. It's like having a two-person network. There
are many communication programs on the market. The best one we have found
so far is Norton pcAnywhere.
- Therapist’s office computer connected to a notebook
computer for the client. Again, you need a communication program
for the computers to talk to each other.
- Therapist's office computer connected to an auxiliary
display, keyboard and pointing device (mouse) for the client. There
are many ways to do this. We can obtain keyboard and mouse multiplexers
for you, which enable two mice and two keyboards to work on the same computer.
You can also use wireless keyboards and mice, which are now on the market
for under $100. For the auxiliary display, you can use another CRT terminal
or even a television. At some point in the next few years, large flat LCD
screens at reasonable prices will be available. These will make great auxiliary
displays.
- Connection by modem and communication at a distance.
You can use a direct telephone connection, or even connect over
the internet. As technology progresses, there will be more options, such
as cable. You need a way to connect your computers, and be able to talk
to each other at the same time. This is now possible with special telephone
lines, and will become easier and more common in the future.
- As technology progresses, many more options will become
available. Two years ago, PsyData ran only with special hardware,
which included two LCD screens connected by a specially designed "buffer,"
specially designed stands, and keyboard and mouse multiplexers. Now computer
communication programs enable PsyData to run on two connected notebook
computers, and all the special hardware has been abandoned. Who knows what
great methods for connecting computers will be available in a few more
years?
Computer Requirements
PsyData presently runs only on Windows95. It will probably run on Windows98,
but this hasn't been tested yet. Any computer with enough power to run
Windows95 adequately will run PsyData extremely well. PsyData will even
run adequately on a 486 at 66 megahertz with 8 megabytes of RAM. The PsyData
program and data take up less than 10 megabytes of disk space.