Hearing tests, PCT software

[From Chris Cherpas (970920.1051 PT)]

Has anybody tried to put together a PCT version of a hearing test?
I don't know what the standard procedure is, but my daughter told
me that in yesterday in kindergarten, they tested her hearing by
having her say when she heard a sound wearing earphones.

Related PCT application ramblings

_Feasible in the relatively short term_
I can imagine a software package that uses PCT to test
various perceptual capabilities of people and gives them a nice
display and report of results. They could test themselves over
time and look at changes.

_Desirable in the relatively long term_
With subsequent releases of the imagined product, more
kinds of perceptual control could be added, with the long-term goal
of providing people with a self-testing/modeling system to use over
a life-time. If the users group of the product submitted data
to be analyzed to PCT software company, they could provide nice
way to fix/update/improve the product. At the highest levels,
the system could be a tool for examining goals and sources of error
from conflicting same-order and trans-order perceptions of self,
values, relationships to with other people, and so forth.

_Overall strategy_
Make it easy for each individual to apply PCT to his/her own
personal life. Use the power of personal computers. (No need
to go "beyond tracking!")

Contrast with:
Institutionalize PCT-based practices in academia, business,
education, etc. Use the power of social structures.

Best regards,
cc

[From Bill Powers (970921.0715 MDT)]

Chris Cherpas (970920.1051 PT)--

Has anybody tried to put together a PCT version of a hearing test?
I don't know what the standard procedure is, but my daughter told
me that yesterday in kindergarten, they tested her hearing by
having her say when she heard a sound wearing earphones.

Related PCT application ramblings

_Feasible in the relatively short term_
I can imagine a software package that uses PCT to test
various perceptual capabilities of people and gives them a nice
display and report of results. They could test themselves over
time and look at changes.

These are fine ideas. Some of them have been done under the heading of "the
method of adjustment." Martin Taylor described a way of using a control
situation to measure the intensity and rate of fading of motion illusions
-- I developed such a method for a young PhD student to use, but in testing
it her motivation (that she suffered disabling motion sickness) disappeared!

One place I would really like to see the method of control applied is in
fitting eyeglasses. It's maddening to have someone else flipping lenses in
and out and asking which is better, number one or number two? If I just had
two knobs, one for astigmatism and one for focus, and some suitable targets
at different distances to look at, I could home right in on the best
prescription.

I expect all developers of commercial applications of PCT to tithe to the
Control Systems Group.

Best,

Bill P.