Multisensory Physical Environments for Data Representation

This paper reviews theoretical research and projects in data representation that use different sensory modalities, embodiment, physical objects, and immersive environments. Other topics include the impact of cross-modal perception on data representation and the role audiovisual aesthetics play in the interpretation of data. Research has shown that cross-modal perception enhances sensory stimuli. Sound, touch, gesture, and movement engage the user and create holistic environments that provide multi-dimensional representations of complex data relationships. These data representations include data sculptures, ambient displays, and multisensory environments that use our intuitive abilities to process information from different sensory modalities. By using multiple senses, it is possible to increase the number of variables and relationships that can be represented simultaneously in complex data sets.