Huge Step up
Posted on 14. Feb, 2010 by gabemott in technology, thank you
Two weeks ago I put up last year’s color box at reSOURCE– and within a day, the wind had torn it down. Thank God. Because that’s what it took for me to take the advice that Ben and Marvyn apparently gave me last year. Make the box out of metal piping– EMT to be exact.
With the contributions you all sent in, I was able to go to the fabric store and buy 31 feet of muslin. 31 feet by 108 inches.
Next– the hardware store– the EMT poles come in ten feet length– I asked them about cutting down the poles and then it occurred to me that the box just grew. Instead of 8′ x 8′ x 8′, it’s now going to be 10′ x 10′ x 8′. That took some deliberation, but tonight, we set up the box and the payoff is huge. The dimensions fit the projector better and the increased volume is less cramped.
First I must tell you, the 12 metal poles that make up the frame of the box fit in my car. They fit in my little Honda. Steps up from last year? Huge. Last year the wood poles that made the box barely fit in my truck.
Last year: 512 cubic feet
This year: 800 cubic feet
Last year time to construct: 6 hours.
This year: don’t know yet, but could be 2 hours.
Last year: huge black plastic drape down to the SINGLE projector
This year: nothing between projectors and box– and yes, projectorS. We are going for FOUR projectors. The effect with TWO projectors tonight was tremendous.
Last year: three pages of content
This year: Already up to 6
Last year’s controller: a bamboo stick with infra-red LEDs
This years: 4 little stuffed animals for use by four people at a time with infrared LEDs in their third eye (not the people’s, you get it).
Last year’s Wii infrared camera: took ten minutes to calibrate and someone touching the camera meant it had to be recalibrated.
This year: controlled from the middle of the room- you just have to see how much better this is.
Many of these steps were discovered today. Big day today. And you fueled it.
So anyway, the muslin screen needs to be attached really well to the box and I’m getting lots of ideas of how to do it (gromits and laces or velcro … or seams). And honestly it’s the one part of the production that has had me a little flustered.
Tremendous day. Big steps forward and truly– couldn’t have done it without you.
