Simplicity
"My
current system is just too complicated. I want
power, but I want it to be simple, too."
Our
fully automatic, intelligent firing modules
perform self-test and continuity tests. All
system functions are automatic except program
selection, cue selection, Arm and Fire commands.
The system has to be simple to use - period!
All of these master-firing modules--all of the
flexibility and options--are handled automatically
for the user. First, the user is simply asked
to select the show file to be used. The Command
Module can hold over a dozen shows. If only
one show is loaded into the Command Module,
this step is skipped. The system handles all
self-test functions, and then the Command Module
downloads all of the show information to the
array of Firing Modules. Each then does its
individual continuity testing and returns the
results to the Command Module. The Command Module
reports OK or a list of errors to the operator.
The error list is in plain English (or other
language of choice).With the continuity check
complete, the user need only press the ARM button,
select a manual or automatic start cue if there
are multiple, and then FIRE.
"I
like the idea of having priorities assigned
to my cues to be able to shut off certain shells,
but the numbering system is almost impossible
to remember. Most of the time I just don't use
it, but when I do, I've got a little sticky
note attached to my laptop to help me remember.
God help me if I give the show to someone else
to shoot; they'll never get it right. I want
the power, but I want it to be easy."
In Firelinx, we call them Disables, because
that's primarily what they do. We have pre-programmed
disables on all shells over 8", but the
user has the ability to design his own custom
disables and attach them to any cue or product.
Most importantly, each disable has descriptive
text for operation. So when you go to
the disable screen, you'll see "Disable
12" shells", "Disable -
Wind from East", "Disable - rain"
- something that makes sense to you in the heat
of firing the show. Anything that was disabled
can be enabled again later in the show. And
remember that you can manually fire any cue
while the automated show is running; so during
the finale, for example, you can go back and
clear those tubes that were temporarily disabled.
Additional disable functions work on a module
basis. Disables can identify one or a set of
entire modules to disable, and the user can
disable any module from the Command Module at
any time.
"I
want more control over the show as it runs,
and I want it to be easy. Period."
With
the Command Module, your in-show controls include
disables, nudge timing, manual firing, pause,
and abort. You can define a disable to disable
or enable any shell, cue or group. As the system
is firing, you can nudge the timing backwards
or forwards by 1/10 of a second, either from
the touch screen or from the control handle
pickle switch. Two buttons under the thumb on the
control handle adjust the timing. Any cue can
be manually fired at any time. If the system
is paused, the internal clocks continue to run
and the system will resume firing at the correct
point in the music when the pause is removed.
If the timing track is interrupted (and you've
selected to pause if this happens) the internal
clocks will resynchronize to match the correct
music timing when the show restarts. The abort
command performs a complete shutdown and safe
of all modules.
"I'm
no dummy, but I'm not a computer geek, either.
What's with these 0-9ABCDEF settings on my modules?
I like to use A-F as the rows of mortars, and
it gets confusing. Can't you make it simpler?"
We've
seen a lot of things done that make it easier
or cheaper for the computer to handle at the
expense of confusion to the users. We call this
"LPS" or Lazy Programmer Syndrome.
Firelinx modules are labeled 001 to 999. When
you turn a module on, it will either take the
next number in sequence (automatic assignment)
or you can change it to any number via the Command
Module (explicit assignment). It's so simple
that one or two people can set up and identify
every module quickly. You don't have to understand
hexadecimal bases to use Firelinx. There is
one additional feature of interest as well:
It's possible for more than one module to have
the same number. This might be done for a number
of reasons, needing more power on a group of
cues, last minute splitting of cues to change
mortar locations, etc. The Command Module handles
the situation automatically and both modules
will fire the exact same cue list at the exact
same time.
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