Satellite Sonification
Berlin - 2013
Sonification is the rendering of data into sound (typically non-speach) designed for human auditory perception. The informantional value of the rendering is often unkown beforehead, particulary in data exploration - Alberto de Campo
Satellites are all around us. Floating in the space there are more than 13000 pieces of metal streaming all kind of data. Our concept of space and time changed since we can base our day life on tools like google maps, gps and others satellite stuffs. There is a continuous stream of information in and out from our planet that define a new way to live the globe. In this sense sat- ellites are a narrative platform where build all together different connections between people, a stronger way to empower local communities.
The amount of traffic is enormous, and usually we are not aware of this “phenomena”. Sonification is an art form that combines science and establish a different view, sometimes more subjective as an info-graphic (or Auditory information display), but not meaning less important, actually it takes advantage of the underlines of sonic understandings.
LAIKA is a ritual of re-appropriation, a celebrations of the fact we are involved in the same data- space that could control bodies or change relations between entities. A real time satellite sound track that invite to dream and propose to look over our head as a land to explore.
Laika analyse the data from the satellite according to the current location. It is a generative sound track connected to a realtime multi tracking satellites system called Gpredict. Every Satellite ID is translated to a synthesizer definition as well as his azimuth, elevation, translated in a surround (7.1) sound system. The time scaling may variate according to the data and location. The code is open-source using SuperCollider as a platform base for Sonification, the technology and sound research involve is develop by the integrated media and music technology students.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamachine