stellar_muddle (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stellar_muddle) wrote2005-10-20 03:38 pm
stellar_muddle) wrote2005-10-20 03:38 pm
Strange perceptions
A discussion after a seminar* on how we "perceive" data. One of the academics here has been experimenting with turning spectra into sound. Comments about distinguishing different types of white noise. Apparently you can tell basic spectral types of stars apart this way due to this fact. Also certain types of lines produce particular resonances such that certain types of Seyfort galaxies sound like bells. In other emission features, you can guess the composition because when a certain set of Oxygen emission lines appear, you get a "whub whub whub..." noise. Then the question moved onto whether or not you could transform the information into tactile, through a body suit... with frequency and amplitude referring to location etc...
*Seminar was on how you present the statistics/arguments for justifying BIG (20-100m diameter optical telescopes). There was information theory and Bayesian approaches involved - somewhat confusing but a very good dry sense of humour presenting it.
*Seminar was on how you present the statistics/arguments for justifying BIG (20-100m diameter optical telescopes). There was information theory and Bayesian approaches involved - somewhat confusing but a very good dry sense of humour presenting it.