Auditory displays have been successfully developed to assist data visualization in many areas, but have as yet received little attention in the field of Artificial Life. This paper presents an overview of existing design approaches to auditory display and highlights some of the immediate challenges for the field. Examples from recent experiments are used to illustrate the importance of considering factors such as data characteristics, data-display mappings, perceptual interactions within and between display modalities, and user experience and training in designing new visualization tools. It is concluded that whilst further research is needed to develop generic design principles for auditory display, this should not stand in the way of exploration of bespoke designs for specific applications.
Alice C. Eldridge