Symphony of Eigenvalues: A Prototype for Sonification in System Dynamics

摘要

Sonification is the use of nonspeech audio to convey information and can enhance the abilityof system dynamics in the analysis of relationships between structure and behavior. Today’sdesktop computing power allows users of software such as MAX and MSP to create a varietyof sounds whose parameters are determined by the mappings of imported data. The prototypediscussed used pitch, timbre and amplitude to describe the values and first and second orderdifferences, respectively, of the state variables. A two-parameter model of Hares and Lynxdemonstrated the sonic effects, while another two-parameter model of Alcohol and Cellsfeatured the addition of sonified eigenvalues, illustrating the combined fields’ potential toprovide an early warning detection to changes in feedback loop dominance. The prototype’sability to express 10 parameters of interest with just 4 sounds should appeal to the fields ofbusiness, education and the arts.