Pharos(TM) LPC X Controls a Cloudburst at Heathrow
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(23 May 2008) -- The cloud that hangs at London's Heathrow Airport has a silver lining -- a stunning display for weary travelers' eyes. 'Cloud,' the five-meter-long digital sculpture by the international art and design firm Troika, hangs in the atrium to British Airways' luxury lounges at Heathrow's new Terminal 5. Evoking the electronic displays on old-fashioned arrival and departure boards, 4,638 flip-dots cover the sculpture's surface, switching between black and silver for spectacular visual and audio effects.
A Pharos(TM) LPC X (Lighting Playback Controller X) embedded within the sculpture generates the geometric and organic patterns that move fluidly and continuously across the Cloud's skin. Troika utilized the Pharos Designer software's pixel mapping and lighting media effects to create the mesmerizing and calming flip-dot animations.
Because the Cloud's mechanical switching had been pre-designed to receive RS232 serial data rather than DMX, Pharos developed and implemented a custom control protocol to allow seamless communication with the flip-dot drivers.
As well as outputting custom control protocols, a single Pharos LPC X is available in multiple DMX universe capacities from the LPC 20 to an LPC 200. Winner of a 2008 Live Design Excellence Award, the LPC X supports a variety of protocols -- including Art-Net, Color Kinetic's KiNet, ETCNet2(TM), Pathport, and streaming ACN, in addition to offering video mapping, triggering interfaces, and remote access. This rugged solid-state rack-mount device is programmed using the popular Pharos Designer software.
ETC is the exclusive North American distributor of Pharos controls.
For more information on the LPC X, other Pharos control products and to download free Designer software, visit www.etcconnect.com or www.pharoscontrols.com .
To see a video of some of the first 'Cloud' animations created by Troika, go to troika.uk.com/cloudvideos.htm.
