Rhythmic Applause

1
Rhythmic Applause

• Jim Goebl

2
Vicsek et. Al.

• Paper entitled Self-Organization in the Concert
  Hall
• http//angel.elte.hu/7Evicsek/
• Examines patterns in the applause of audiences

3
Self-Organization

• System of a large number of similar components
• In this case the components are the audience
  members
• One event triggers an other event in the opposite
  direction

4
Clapping

• Begins as incoherent at the beginning of applause
  session, but suddenly can become synchronized
• Clapping can desynchronize and resynchronize
  several times during applause

5
Research

• The paper writers decided to study applause by
  recording it at the end of several performances
  in European concert halls
• The synchronization was recorded and graphed
• Clapping was determined to be periodic

6
Research

• Discovered that the period of the claps doubled
  as they became synchronized
• However, noise intensity decreases as
  synchronization increases
• Audience fluctuates between synchronization and
  intensity with their clapping

7
Further Testing

• Researchers tested the period increase by asking
  lone individuals to clap for applause and then
  clap for rhythm
• The period doubled between the applause and the
  rhythmic clapping

8
Synchronized Clapping in the US

• Audiences synchronize their clapping less often
  in the United States than in Europe
• Researchers surmised that this difference occurs
  because the US is less homogeneous than European
  nations