Improved Data Sonification and Testing Method

To allow for more flexibility, reach a larger population, increase convenience, and have automatic recording of results, moved to a Web based test.

Implementation :

Auditory graphs.

Data sonification accomplished by writing a small program to convert data into a text file format which a shareware program (MIDIGraphy) could convert into MIDI sounds.

Not only represented y value as pitch, but included a drum beat to represent the 1^st and 2^nd derivatives. These were then converted into QuickTime and .wav file formats.

Examples:
A Linearly increasing graph:


MIDI file Audio Graph.

A Graph of x²:


MIDI file Audio Graph.

Why MIDI/QuickTime?

• Small files.
• Most computers can play them.
• I could easily produce them.

Test Format and Implementation:

• Utilized form fields in HTML, and PERL scripts on the server to record data entered by students and to produce test questions pages.
• Welcome page: information about auditory graphs, informed consent page.
• Name page
• Survey and Pre-test pages
• Test Question pages