Aquarium fugue: interactive sonification for children and visually impaired audience in informal learning environments

Abstract

In response to the need for more accessible Informal Learning Environments (ILEs), the Georgia Tech Accessible Aquarium Project has been studying sonification for the use in live exhibit interpretation in aquariums. The present work attempts to add more interactivity [1] to the project’s existing sonification work, which is expected to lead to more accessible learning opportunities for visitors, particularly people with vision impairments as well as children. In this interactive sonification phase, visitors can actively experience an exhibit by using tangible objects to mimic the movement of animals. Sonifications corresponding to the moving tangible objects can be paired with real-time interpretive sonifications produced by the existing Accessible Aquarium system to generate a cooperative fugue. Here, we describe the system configuration, pilot test results, and future works. Implications are discussed in terms of embodied interaction and interactive learning.