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Hardware_Recommended
See the individual guides for conceptual and technical information on the hardware aspects of the behavioral system (pumps, display screens, bluetooth & usb, electronics & circuit). These guides are intended to help users make informed decisions on the type of hardware that best suits their application. The recommendation below is specific to one of our most recent implemented systems and, much like the code, is only meant to serve as a working starting point. We encourage you to purchase any of these items and try them before committing to a particular implementation.
Touchscreen - Google Pixel C
The touchscreen is the centerpiece of the system; it takes user touches as input, outputs the stimuli (audio/video), and communicates wirelessly with the cloud for the data storage. There are a number of factors to consider in choosing a tablet including the screen dpi, the touch sensitivity, the OS, the locations of ports and home screen buttons, the type of power connector, and of course, cost. We chose the Pixel C not only because it uses android and runs the chrome browser but because, as a google device, it receives the latest android OS updates automatically (unlike Samsung tablets). In addition, the pixel C has a USB type-C port which allows both charging (with USB battery pack) and communication (with arduino). The Pixel C has 308 dpi which is above average for a tablet, and we like that there are no physical home screen buttons on the screen face that we would have to cover up or inadvertently touch. Also, the USB port and power button are placed toward one end which works for our current configuration. The drawbacks of the Pixel C are that it is expensive and now no longer made by Google. Viable alternatives include the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 and the Asus ZenPad 3S 10.
Pump - Takasago SDMP306D or TCS Micropumps D250S-L
The Takasago piezoelectric pumps run smoothly and quietly and provide a continuously controllable volume output. Because they are piezoelectric, they are low power (~0.1W) but can only do flow rates up to 7mL/min. For larger flow rates, we recommend the TCS diaphragm pumps which aren't as continuously controllable but are quite powerful while still being fairly low power (1.8W).