Justin Joque, Spatial and Numeric Data Services Librarian at the University of Michigan Library, frequently works with U-M researchers in various fields to collect and render data in ways that illuminate their studies. Data visualization—that is, transforming numeric information into graphical form—can make complex information more readily understandable, and can lead to new insights and knowledge.
Listening to the Dow from Justin Joque on Vimeo.
Joque notes that while scientists are increasingly interested in mapping data onto other media in the hope of revealing patterns that are otherwise invisible, artists are increasingly seeking out data sources, either for material or inspiration.Recently, he became interested in data sonification—that is, rendering numeric information into sound waves—and wondered what it might be capable of revealing, as both research and art.With no musical background, Joque decided to keep it simple. He used an open source programming language and environment called Processing, and created two sine waves that range from 20-800 herz. One of the waves maps to the daily changes in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the other to the daily number of trades, from the late 1920s to early 2011 (data he obtained from Yahoo).”The period after the Great Depression through the 1960s is somewhat tedious,” Joque says. “But I think it’s worth listening to in order to hear the advent of high frequency trading.”Asked when that happened, Joque smiles. “Just listen,” he says. “You’ll hear it.
Ryan Rudy - 2009/2010
What does a market crash sound like? It’s pretty crazy that one can audibly identify these fluctuations, even (I think) Black Monday. Most interesting is listening to the last 5 years and hearing how things have changed.
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Laurence Krieg - 1973, 1980
Waveform patterns are often analyzed using the Fourier transform, which reveals recurring patterns and is used in fields as diverse as language sounds (my field) and tree ring width.
Also, I notice after about 1990 the frequency becomes high enough to be difficult to hear. Has the data been normalized for inflation…?
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Steve Peterson - 1971
Some examples of interpretation would be useful and informative. I second the use of Fourier transforms.
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Camille Graham - 1973
Outstanding! Every investor ought to listen before entering the market.
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Boyd Fellows Sr - 60 Grad School
I think it might be interesting to track a number of different track and swimming records. Also, prices for gasoline, bread, milk and cigarettes.
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Steven Phillips
Wow, who would have thought that you could turn this kind of data into sound. I can see how it would be much easier to make trading decisions and track industrial indicators on what your hear versus trying to sort through all that data visually. absolutely amazing.
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