Abstract
Sleep is a universal behaviour, being essential to physical and mental wellbeing, yet it remains an individual and largely incommunicable experience. During sleep, our consciousness is altered, involving diminished perceptions of the external world. The auditory system, however, remains responsive, opening possibilities for using sound as a two-way method of communication during sleep. This paper explores the use of objective measurements to relate two individuals’ subjective sleep experiences via a shared sonic domain, and in doing so details an ongoing interdisciplinary project which integrates knowledge from neuroscience, psychology, data science, sound and music computing, and musicology.
The project, once implemented, will transform real-time physiological data from two sleeping participants into abstract soundscapes through sonification, thereby facilitating a reciprocal interaction within a closed-loop system. This forms the basis for a planned immersive public installation, through which synchronised soundscapes, visualisations, and educational content invite audiences to engage with sleep science and reflect on their own experiences.
This paper details an iterative design process, guided by the Double Diamond framework. It addresses conceptual challenges of the project, such as integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines, relating subjective experience to sonic representations, and applying analytical techniques within an artistic framework. Practical and ethical issues regarding the implementation of the system are also discussed. This paper highlights collaborative efforts from ten doctoral candidates, whose expertise shaped the project.
The project, once implemented, will transform real-time physiological data from two sleeping participants into abstract soundscapes through sonification, thereby facilitating a reciprocal interaction within a closed-loop system. This forms the basis for a planned immersive public installation, through which synchronised soundscapes, visualisations, and educational content invite audiences to engage with sleep science and reflect on their own experiences.
This paper details an iterative design process, guided by the Double Diamond framework. It addresses conceptual challenges of the project, such as integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines, relating subjective experience to sonic representations, and applying analytical techniques within an artistic framework. Practical and ethical issues regarding the implementation of the system are also discussed. This paper highlights collaborative efforts from ten doctoral candidates, whose expertise shaped the project.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of Conference on Sonification of Health and Environmental Data (SoniHED 2025) |
| Publication date | 29 Jan 2025 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-91-8106-119-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Jan 2025 |