Toward a data sonification design space map

We propose a systematic approach for reasoning about experimental sonification designs for a given type of dataset. Starting from general data properties, the approach recommends initial strategies, and lists possible refinements to consider in the design process. An overview of the strategies included is presented as a mental (and visual) map, and the refinement steps to consider correspond to movements on the map. The main purpose of this approach is to extract 'theory' from 'observation' (in our case, of design practice), similar to grounded theory in sociology [1]: to make implicit knowledge (often expressed in 'natural' ad hoc decisions by sonification experts) explicit and thus available for reflection, discussion, learning, and application in design work. This approach is the result of analysing design sessions which took place in an interdisciplinary sonification workshop 'Science By Ear' [2], held in March 2006. In order to explain the concept in practice as well, a set of workshop sessions on one dataset is analysed here in the terms proposed.