[F8] Nanoseconds

[mickm]

Hi everyone, long time since I have posted

Is there any way to get the number of Nanoseconds in flash?
I know you can get the number of Milliseconds and divide by 1000 to get nanoseconds. But that isn't accurate enough.

I would like to use the nanoseconds because I am making a small reflex game. Milliseconds just aren't fast enough (too many people can get the same number twice.)



Thanks.

[renderhjs]

flash can´t but maybe java can and pass it through

or maybe you hust need more factors for a variety- like motion capturing instead of digital button hitting

[mickm]

Thanks renderhjs, I guess ill look for some other ways to test reflexes instead of getTimer()

[691175002]

Perhaps its just flashes frame system messing with the results? I haven't tested any of this, but perhaps the getTimer only gets the times of the nearest frame instead of the precise moment of clickage?

[renderhjs]

...just thinking of it... maybe there is a way
dont know what the frame rate limit is in flash (lets forget once about the browser limitation here) - maybe you could try increasing a counter on each frame or interval event so that in the end it reaches 10,000 hit´s a second- but that depends more on how the flash player is limited- and if it can perform it.

otherwise try it yourself ,- setup a Interval wich calls every 10,000 times a second a function wich increases a variable.

but this is rather a very wacky idea,- better try finding a different approach

[swak]

Flash is limited to 120fps.

[renderhjs]

thinking again,-
damn 1000 ms as 1s is quite excactly,- if you even try for the nano seconds people might blame the timing on their hardware (keyboard, mouse, cable,...).
Did you created some tests that can varify that so many people get the excact same ms time

[mr_malee]

yeah, i don't see any problem with milliseconds

[691175002]

As I said before, flash may be rounding to the nearest frame. That is the only real reason I can see why results may be consistant.

[renderhjs]

if you use the time object or the getTimer(); then it should have to do nothing with frames at all,- not even the framerate. At least the time object or the getTimer is accurate up to it´s miliseconds.
example:

var time = getTimer();//start event time
myButton.onPress = function(){
    trace("time delay: "+(getTimer()-time)+" ms");
}

[SaphuA]

But the event which is only called "on a frame" will make it inacurate.

[DancingOctopus]

But the event which is only called "on a frame" will make it inacurate.

Could you use setInterval? I'm a bit rusty, so I'm not sure exactly how accurate it is.

[renderhjs]

But the event which is only called "on a frame" will make it inacurate.

but that shouldn´t go for buttons or?,- don´t know how his game works but if he uses buttons for the interaction I see no problems.
If it is about motion´s try predicting them with calculations and not putting them in a onEnterFrame event just waiting to catch the timing on whatever.

[mickm]

Thanks for all the replies.

As for the tests, yes people were able to get the same results here at work very easily, thus I needed something smaller (nanoseconds).

Anyway the game is as follows (simple);
1. User clicks their mouse to start the game.
2. User than has to wait until a red light turns green (random wait time 5 seconds - 10 seconds).
3. User must then click on the light to stop the timing. (Movie clip with a Mouse Event).

In most cases people were able to get the same time, or an avg of the same time.

I may change the game so that the user will not see the "light" at the beginning and then it will appear in a random play on your screen (thus you would have to move your mouse).

[alillm]

I was actually having a strange problem the other day where the number of milliseconds in a speed test I was doing was either 0 or 10, but never anything in-between as if flash was rounding to the nearest 10 milliseconds. Maybe something like that is happening to you?

Ali

[renderhjs]

3. User must then click on the light to stop the timing. (Movie clip with a Mouse Event).

not sure but try something like this:

myMc.useHandCursor = false;
myMc.onPress = function(){
   //timer stuff....
}

hopefully that is different and wont depend on the framerate

[mickm]

Renderhjs,

Thats basically what I am doing right now

I am changing the game a little bit so people wont be able to get the same time.

Thanks for everyone's help. Ill post a link of the game when I am done.