Aspects of auditory perception and cognition for usable display resolution in data sonification

Abstract

Sonification of data via the mapping of values to frequency of sound is an auditory data analysis technique commonly used to display graph information. The goal for any form of graph is to display numerical information with accuracy and neutrality while exploiting perceptual and cognitive processes. Conveying information in frequency of sound is subject to aspects of pitch perception, largely overlooked to date, that can influence these properties of auditory graphing. This paper identifies some of these aspects and describes potential design limitations and opportunities derived from the musical nature of auditory data representations. © 2009 Springer.