Localizing emotions: Soundscape representations through Smartphone Use

Abstract

The term “soundscape” refers to a well-defined field that acts as a source of auditory stimuli and whose characteristics are directly related to the listener’s position. The study of soundscapes entails the study of the interplay between the listener and sound, as well as the attribution of representation to auditory information. The investigation of representation is intimately related to the person and emotions, as well as the spatial and auditory aspects of the environment. Emotion is a way of understanding the listeners, their experiences, and the environment. The research described in this paper aimed to identify and investigate the representation of the soundscape through emotional response. The research took place in the city of Limassol, Cyprus. The participants consisted of four groups of 10-15 persons each. A mixed methodological approach was followed – both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. For the geolocation of the emotional responses that arise as a result of the representation of the urban soundscape in question, a mobile app was developed for the mediated experience; it runs on on Android, it is titled Locomotion, and it provides participants with the ability to indicate their emotional state based on the dimensions of Russell’s (2003) circumplex model of affect. The emotion-related information provided by the participants is overlaid on a map of the city, so that the emotional significance of various units of the urban environment is readily visible.