Increasing Accessibility of the Universe Through Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a phenomenon where one experiences “seeing sound” or “hearing color.” Sounds weird, right?

Well, in an article in the Harvard Gazette, a visualization researcher and team of scientists and sound engineers are working on applying this concept to photos of astral bodies to make deep space images more accessible to those with significant visual impairments. The process is called data sonification.

By assigning various tones and musical instruments to represent visual data the team has added another dimension to some iconic deep space photographs, enriching the experience for all while increasing accessibility. Read the full article to learn more and listen to the images.  

Reference

Siliezar J. (2021) “Harvard scientist turns space images into music.” Harvard Gazette. January 25.