{"id":1857,"date":"2015-10-26T07:30:59","date_gmt":"2015-10-26T14:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/?p=1857"},"modified":"2015-10-21T12:28:43","modified_gmt":"2015-10-21T19:28:43","slug":"sonification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/2015\/10\/26\/sonification\/","title":{"rendered":"Sonification!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Economists sure love their charts, as any student who survives Econ 170 has learned. Data visualization isn’t just the decorative frosting on lesson plans and published papers. It is an absolutely essential interface between\u00a0people and data. Briefly consider this data on annual percent change in GDP in the United States from FRED:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
DATE<\/span><\/td>\nVALUE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

1955-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.125955765883840<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1956-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.131213376900720<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1957-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.102826706703490<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1958-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-0.731728665207882<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1959-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.898619218085940<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1960-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.566027153202800<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1961-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.554101761976380<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1962-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.114879435404820<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1963-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.355504976980980<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1964-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.767719183950940<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1965-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.497636614399920<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1966-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.595334041630260<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1967-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.743014189834750<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1968-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.909046030916900<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1969-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.139619503066850<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1970-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.202123088186139<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1971-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.295743329097830<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1972-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.262807206376060<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1973-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.643390319077960<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1974-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-0.516677958914673<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1975-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-0.198293195948870<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1976-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.386836510161830<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1977-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.608445145318870<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1978-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.561731514232780<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1979-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.175261679857030<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1980-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-0.244347530234140<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1981-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.594412749596940<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1982-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-1.911148048808150<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1983-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.632757046959200<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1984-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.258907538280310<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1985-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.238489229618300<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1986-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.512075640654210<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1987-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.461611856752120<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1988-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.204067579863760<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1989-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.680158121423100<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1990-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.919449147116980<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1991-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-0.073701636790531<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1992-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.555094891000390<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1993-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.745897880009270<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1994-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.037916185274650<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1995-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.718705359170960<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1996-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.796162067864080<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1997-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.486791023577310<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1998-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.449765968726340<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1999-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.685327578166540<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2000-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.092110824720890<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2001-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.976141851086625<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2002-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.786157818998980<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2003-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.806811645566690<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2004-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.785481233658090<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2005-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.345379434020840<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2006-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.666455907406440<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2007-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.778798122322720<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2008-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-0.291621144633987<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2009-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

-2.775553551410540<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2010-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.531772865192880<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2011-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.601584166452490<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2012-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.320816613212190<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2013-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.219377422665830<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2014-01-01<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.389041566745340<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Get much out of that? Probably not. Now, look at this visualization of data:<\/p>\n

\"Source:<\/a><\/p>\n

Get more out of that? A lot more? Probably. The point is: presenting\u00a0data in a human-friendly manner is important; people have a hard time performing meaningful analysis of untreated data. However, data visualization is old hat. The new kid on the block is sonification, or the sonic representation of data. You may be scratching your head, but I am sure that you have encountered it before. Click over here<\/a>. It’s a recording of a Geiger counter, which represents the intensity of radiation through click-frequency. Thus, the user can get a real-time sense of this otherwise invisible phenomenon. That same information could very well be represented visually (i.e. by a flashing light), but nevertheless a sonification is employed because sound provides a more tangible and meaningful interface with the frequency information. Sonification is employed to represent data in more academic settings, as well. The proponents of sonification hope that this method, by\u00a0allowing individuals a\u00a0new way to interact with data,\u00a0will allow them to perhaps pick out new\u00a0trends or patterns in the data. Click over to Foreign Affairs<\/a>. They have a few great examples of sonification of economic data, including the “Bacon\u00a0Cheeseburger\u00a0Inflation Index” and sales of gold and silver coins. It took me a few listens to get a handle on what was going on, so don’t be shy with the replay button. Sonification\u00a0can be a little more tricky to put together effectively than building a chart on Microsoft Excel and a little more tricky for unfamiliar ears to comprehend. And, unlike a visualization, it cannot be directly printed into a paper. Keep it somewhere in the back of your toolbox, though; it may come in handy someday.<\/p>\n

(I was inspired to share this bit on sonification by a recent episode<\/a> of the podcast Actuality.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Economists sure love their charts, as any student who survives Econ 170 has learned. Data visualization isn’t just the decorative frosting on lesson plans and published papers. It is an absolutely essential interface between\u00a0people and data. Briefly consider this data on annual percent change in GDP in the United States from FRED: DATE VALUE 1955-01-01 7.125955765883840 1956-01-01 2.131213376900720 1957-01-01 2.102826706703490 1958-01-01 -0.731728665207882 1959-01-01 6.898619218085940 1960-01-01 2.566027153202800 1961-01-01 2.554101761976380 1962-01-01 6.114879435404820 1963-01-01 4.355504976980980 1964-01-01 5.767719183950940 1965-01-01 6.497636614399920 1966-01-01 6.595334041630260 1967-01-01 2.743014189834750 1968-01-01 4.909046030916900 1969-01-01 3.139619503066850 1970-01-01 0.202123088186139 1971-01-01 3.295743329097830 1972-01-01 5.262807206376060 1973-01-01 5.643390319077960 1974-01-01 -0.516677958914673 1975-01-01 -0.198293195948870 1976-01-01 5.386836510161830 1977-01-01 4.608445145318870 Continue reading Sonification!<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":388,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-economics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/388"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1857"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1857\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1865,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1857\/revisions\/1865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.pugetsound.edu\/econ\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}