Hiatus

I've been keeping a much more regularly updated list of links, sans descriptions and analysis, on my delicious bookmarks. Perhaps I'll come back here for some analysis as I develop my master's thesis?

Singing Arc Demonstration

The "Singing Tesla Coil", a notable example of a non-standard technique for auralizing a signal.

Towards a Model of Information Aesthetics in Information Visualization

Andrew Vande Moore's 2007 paper, Towards a Model of Information Aesthetics in Information Visualization, comes to some related (and to some degree, similar) conclusions about dimensions we might use to frame transcoding — in this case, visualization. One of his two primary dimensions is "direct vs. interpretive":

The focus on direct mapping is generally driven by standards learnt from visual cognition research, including Gestalt rules and perception psychology, and guidelines which determine which representations are most ideal depending on data type. [...] On the other hand, mappings which involve subjective decisions and stylistic influences are highly interpretive.

Resembling my "objective vs. subjective". The other is "intrinsic vs. extrinsic":

Visualization techniques with intrinsic data focus aim to facilitate insight into data by employing cognitively effective visual mapping. [...] In contrast, those with extrinsic data focus facilitate the communication of meaning that is related to or underlies the dataset. These extrinsically-focused techniques are aimed towards visualization which are able to be appreciated and interpreted, and to invoke personal reflection.

I've made a similar distinction in the past as "introduction vs. induction" or "prose vs. poetry". I never brought this up with respect to transcoding because I feel like it is a much more general attribute of communication.

Climate Control

Bart Woodstrup, an MFA student at RPI, is currently showing "a series of climate-interactive electronic installations and eco-visualizations intended to address the personal detachment felt towards global climate change." (iEAR Presents)

A "manual" for the installation describes some of the transformations ("data interpretations"): "Power: plant height and rate of growth; Irradiance: sun/cloud/moon animation; Ambient Temperature: leaf color and brightness; Module Temperature: flower head hue and saturation; Timescale: 1:1,800 seconds".

Rutt-Etra Video Synthesizer

The Rutt-Etra Video Synthesizer transcodes video into video, rendering each frame in 3d using scanlines where height is controlled by brightness.

ixi Software

ixi Software presents a number of transcoding-based musical programs. For example, ixi Quarks offers various visual representations of musical events and sound sources.

Tenori-on

The Tenori-On takes advantage of a Monome-like matrix of LED buttons to visualize musical compositions in real-time as they are being improvised. One of the cooler controls is the breakable loop bar, allowing you multiple loop lengths.