stetho-array (ascul-array) project
@Pratyusha Priya Kalluri | pkalluri[at]mit.edu Camera Culture Group, MIT Media Lab
--ABOUT THE PROBLEM BEING ADDRESSSED--
AscultAtion relies on external measurement of signals within the body to detect and understand internal anomalies. The aim is to diagnose and treat patients quickly and non-invasively. The stethoscope is the primary tool for ascultation, but many doctors, including the clinician mentor I worked with, state ascultation via traditional stethoscope has not seen significant innovation in many years.
I propose that multi-stethoscope arrays have the potential to bring efficiency, precision, and quantitative rigor to ascultation. Smart signal processing comparing signal information across such a multi-stethoscope (concurrent) array creates the potential for fast triangulation data and summary data of internal signals.
Multi-stethoscope arrays will require thoughtfully-designed, efficient signal processing algorithms to (1) Provide proof of concept, (2) Understand constraints/scope on such a device, (3) Understand important optimizations, and (4) Implement the final device.
The program included here emphasizes (1), also implementing (4). Its flexible, parametrizable code makes it useful in exploring (2) and (3).
--ABOUT THIS PROGRAM--
The direct purpose of this program is to demonstrate that self-positioned arrays of listeners can facilitate successful, precise reconstruction, localization, and visualization of otherwise unknown signals.
Specifically, this program uses (a) user-inputted sound-emitters (plotted in red) to simulate listeners' data (plotted in black) or (b) uses user-inputted + live-recorded listeners' data (also plotted in black), then uses this listeners' data alone to successfully recontruct sound-emitters.
All matrix data representations and other design decisions are documented within the code.
--HOW TO RUN THIS PROGRAM--
Set the PARAMETERS file, then run the RUNNER script.
--ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF THIS PACKAGE--
The SoundReconstruction directory contains all code necessary to run the Sound Reconstruction program.
The Miscellaneous directory is currently a smorgasbord of code that is potentially useful in next steps, but is not incorporated into the current program.