Hi,
I've joined this community just last october (2008) and now I am in total addiction to this hobbie (like the rest of you, I bet). I was able to get a Grinch board and some SSR's and do a small display last Christmas.
I'm already preparing (thanks to all coop organizers) in order to do a full blown show in 2009.
However, I was thinking (outside the box) about other applications where RJ designs could be put for good use.
Being a youth baseball coach most of my life, the obvious answer was using the light controllers
to do a scoreboard. Perfect fit!
It has been many years since I've wanted to build a scoreboard for our community baseball field.
Now the time has come thanks to RJ's inexpensive (but absolutely great) light controller boards.
I am preparing a short proof of concept presentation (video) on this that I will be sharing with you soon.
I have a scoreboard digit in my hands that is already working with my Grinch board. I'm writing a VisualBasic program to handle the scoreboard, and later I will check if a Vixen Add-in is possible for this application (any help from someone proficient in Vixen Add-ins will later be appreciated).
Think about the possibilities here..
Our scoreboard displays will not only be capable of keeping the score, but also:
- Do a lot of light animations and shows (i.e. Take me out to the ball game light show).
- Simulate fireworks (like I've seen in many Xmas shows) when a Home Run is hit by one of the kids, or when the local teams wins a game.
- Pre-game show with 'Jock Jams' sports type music
- Different light shows/animations between innings.
- Integrating LedTriks for showing kids names, stats, animations, sponsor messages, etc.
- Low cost
We'll get the additional benefits of:
- Year long show off (not just Xmas).
- Keep us busy and creative more time.
- Permanently sharing our scoreboard creations with our local community,
just like RJ is freely sharing his designs with us.
- It is going to be wireless. (Wireless DMX)
If you search the web, you'll see that scoreboards are extremely expensive. I know that
by us sharing our knowledge, we can certainly start producing very good looking
and inexpensive scoreboards capable of doing far more than any standard commercial
scoreboard.
Let me know what you think about this proposed new project.
If you all agree we can do this, then we can say that the "DLA Scoreboard" is born.
Leo
PD: Sorry about the long post, but I'm too excited about this....
