Data exploration througth the sonorization: an opportunity of multiple learning

BEATRIZ GARCÍA; PIERRE-YVES LABLANCE; JOHANNA CASADO; WANDA DIAZ-MERCED; ANGEL CANCIO

Simposio; The International Symposium on Education in Astronomy and Astrobiology; 2017

In general, it is thought that exploration of data of the Space Sciences is an exclusivity of the people who do not have severe cognitive, perceptual or sensorial disabilities. This has been so even after Diaz-Merced (2013) revealed that sound makes astronomy data, and scientific research using such data, accessible for blind astronomers, but also helps the traditional astronomer to increase their sensitivity to events in data that would go undetected. A set of user centered designed tools to ensure a multimodal approach to knowledge is not a prerogative or exclusive need of astronomers or certain selected groups of society.This proposal, which integrates multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary astronomers, engineers, computer specialists, software designers, educators, disability specialists, bioengineers, neurobiologists, sociologists, both blind and sighted, aims to address the following topics: 1. Accessibility to astronomical data, from observations made on Earth or with instruments on board satellites (available in databases / Simbad, NASA, ESA, etc.) 2. The possibility of providing access to the bibliographic databases (ADSABS, among others) 3. Upgrade the prototype of multi-modal access developed by Diaz-Merced in 2013 and without new adaptations to date. 4. Creation of a user centered designed computer-interface suitable for access, collection, sonification, 3D print, and analysis of astrophysical data. 5. Testing in different culture environments the efficiency, utility and effectiveness of the resource. In this contribution, we present the first results related to the creation and application of the techniques and tools proposed, taking into account that this research can be scalable to different areas of the human activity in away that people with other learning styles can have "equal opportunities". Finally, this proposal is framed into the postulates of the fundamental research towards addressing technical challengers to achieve the promised benefits of the Big Data, an strategic topic of worldwide interest.