Project Information

Mission

The primary mission of the Automated Lighting Studio Project is to support instruction in undergraduate lighting design and technology courses. By combining a dynamic html web-based interface with an automated lighting system the project seeks:

• to support live work in the theatre with actual lighting, not simulations
• to use automated lighting technology to make creating sophisticated projects and presentations more efficient
• to flatten the technical learning curve and give beginning students immediate hands-on access to lighting design
• to create a uniform medium through which to teach lighting from the research phase to performance

The project also explores the application of interactive lighting control technology to performance. Avenues of investigation include:

• the use of nonlinear, random, and event-driven lighting in performance
• an exploration of the use of sound and music to control lighting via MIDI control with live instruments and sequencing software
• the creation of interactive lighting environments responsive to actor movements, sound, etc.
• the integration of stage lighting with other computer media such as virtual reality based games

Technology

The technologies used in this project fall into four groups:

• Automated lighting equipment including Martin Mac500 units, High End Systems/Lightwave Research Cyberlight, Studio Color, and Trackspot fixtures
• A networked WinXP software-based lighting control system: Rosco-Entertainment-Technology's Horizon Gold
• A set of dynamic html web-based instructional and control interfaces built with Macromedia Dreamweaver and Javascript
• A range of peripherals for network and data distribution using protocols including: TCP/IP, DMX, MIDI, MIDI-show-control, and SMPTE

For details see Equipment List.