Edinburgh Napier University

  This study investigated the design and evaluation of a sonification, created for an astronomer who studies exosolar accretion discs. User design methods were applied to sonify data that could allow the classification of accretion discs. The sonification was developed over three stages: a requirements gathering exercise that inquired about the astronomer's work and the data, design and development, as well as an evaluation. Twenty datasets were sonified and analysed. The sonification effectively represented the accretion discs allowing the astronomer to commence a preliminary, comparative classification. Multiple parameter mappings provide rich auditory stimuli. Spatial mapping and movement allow for easier identification of fast changes and peaks in the data which improved the understanding of the extent of these changes.