Pie Chart Sonification

Different acoustic variables such as pitch, volume, timbre and position can be used to represent quantitative, qualitative and categorical aspects of the information. Such sonifications are particularly useful for those with visual impairments; they are also beneficial in circumstances where visual representations would be impossible to use or to enrich a graphical realization. We demonstrate methods of representing an audible pie chart representation such that the hearer understands the information through an equivalent representation. We implement and evaluate five designs. In each the user is positioned at the center of the chart and perceives the information through positional sound sources.