Rotator: Flexible Distribution of Data Across Sensory Channels

Abstract

'Rotator' is a web-based multisensory analysis interface that en- ables users to shift streams of multichannel scientific data between their auditory and visual sensory channels in order to better discern structure and anomaly in the data. This paper provides a technical overview of the Rotator tool as well as a discussion of the mo- tivations for integrating flexible data display into future analysis and monitoring frameworks. An audio-visual presentation mode in which only a single stream is visualized at any given moment is identified as a particularly promising alternative to a purely visual information display mode. Auditory and visual excerpts from the interface are available at http://resenv.media.mit.edu/rotator.