Purpose

I would like to create a simple interface for managing a light show, whether for stage lighting, light/music synchronization, or for artistic purposes. I am not at all experienced with handling lighting production, but one reason for that is the imposing complexity of the controls. (Here's an example: http://www.hstech.org/running/ltbd.JPG). Proper operation takes training, in-depth understanding, and, in the case of the light board noted above, a 4MB pdf manual.

Managing a light show could instead be simple, fun, interactive, and collaborative. This project aims to create an interface that meets those possiblities.

Implementation

The main interface is based on a color wheel, most likely similar to the one seen in the attached PNG. The color wheel will be painted or otherwise attached to a glass sheet.

A set of lights for the show (potentially magenta, yellow, and cyan for a single set, to provide a maximum possible range of color combinations) would be mapped to a single token to be placed on the wheel. By placing the token at a certain point on the color wheel, the user identifies which color he/she wishes to project from the lights. Sliding the token around the wheel would cause the lights to fade from one color to another seamlessly. I envision the tokens as rings, which would allow the user to place the token directly on a color location and still allow him/her to view the selected color on the board.

By using multiple tokens on the board, the user could control many light sets at once, or other users could take part in the show's production.

I have thought of a few methods for mapping token coordinates into a software application, including:

• a camera beneath the board capturing an identifying mark (LED light?) from each token
• magnetic tokens -- not knowing much about magnetism, I would not be sure how to approach this

Potential expansions on the idea include:

• Rotation of the token (CW or CCW) causes dim/brighten effect
• Stacking tokens to allow multiple light sets to produce identical colors
• Dragging tokens around the board to create patterns to be saved and looped
• Synching these saved/looped patterns and effects with music

Materials

• glass sheet with color wheel display
• frame/table for board support
• tokens (rings?)
• camera approach requires:
  • camera
  • light source beneath glass sheet
  • LED or other identifying mark for each token
• token -> color value mapping software
• light sets (CMY?)