Sarah Zimmer

Temporal Shift was inspired by research into cymatics and uses data sonification to convey the unseen aspects of Philadelphia.

Environmental data was collected using an array of sensors attached to an Arduino microprocessor (tiny computer). The unit was placed in a vacant, industrial building in NE Philadelphia. The once passive structure was then able to actively compile the surrounding light, infrared light, sound, temperature and humidity stimuli as data.

The sound data is the main element of the sonification process.  The sound files were mixed using the other data sets - to control the various components of the sound - volume, velocity, hertz. When the work is installed, these layered audio files play via speakers positioned beneath parabolic mirrors filled with water. The dance of light and water from the sensory data of the building creates a new language, an observable language translation - an example of sonification.

"Cymatics is the science of sound made visible.It is based on the principle that when sound encounters a membrane such as your skin or the surface of water, it imprints an invisible pattern of energy." - http://www.cymascope.com

Materials: Parabolic mirrors, water, audio speaker, data sets, microcontroller, sensors

Size: Each unit - 12" wide and 8" tall