What data storage options are supported with Flow2 and the DevKit?

Starting with Flow2, customers will have two options for recording their data.  

Option 1: Cloud-Based Data Storage and Organization

Customers who choose to use the Kernel Portal to store, organize, and access their data will have their data transmitted directly to the cloud when an internet connection is available.  Cloud data can be downloaded as SNIRF files for processing using standard tools (e.g. Homer and MNE-Python).  In addition to the scalable storage and organization platform, the Kernel Portal product allows for future upgrades to data processing techniques as they are developed.

Option 2: Local Data Storage and Management

With Flow2 and the DevKit, customers can record data directly to their local computer as SNIRF files.  The files are processed in real-time and stored on the local computer without any dependency on the internet or the Kernel Portal.  Any future upgrades to data processing techniques will only be applied to newly collected datasets and cannot be retroactively re-processed.

Your data storage needs will depend on how much data you collect.  As Flow2 is envisioned as a high throughput system that can scale for recording large data sets, it is difficult to anticipate a user’s actual usage, however we can specify that a whole head Flow2 system with 40 modules configured to record locally will produce around 70 GB/hour. Since the DevKit consists of fewer modules and therefore fewer channels, it is expected that a 12-module system will produce around 18GB/hour.