Project

Data-Driven Elevator Music

None

Groups

Our glass building lets us see across spaces�through the walls that enclose us and beyond. Yet invisibly, networks of sensors inside and out capture the often imperceivable dimensions of the built and natural environment. Our project uses multi-channel spatial sound to bring that data into the utilitarian experience of riding the glass elevator. In the past, we've mixed live sound from microphones throughout the building with sonification of sensor data, using a pressure sensor to provide fine-grained altitude for control. In its present form, the elevator is displaying data from the Living Observatory, a wetland restoration site 60 miles away. Each string pluck represents a new data point streaming in; its pitch corresponds to the temperature at the sensor and its timbre reflects the humidity. Live and recorded sound reflect the real ambience of the remote wetland.