Institute for Data Analysis and Visualization

We describe and analyze a new technique for sonification of three-dimensional vector fields. This technique allows the user to use commodity hardware and widely available 3D sound interfaces to map vectors in a listener's local neighborhood into smooth wind-like sound (aerodynamic sound). The four types of information provided by this technique are flow direction, flow velocity, flow vorticity and local flow patterns. The result is a system that helps the user achieve an intuitive understanding of the data set by using their auditory sense.