Lighting Design aided by Activity Zones and Context-Aware Computing

Andy PerelsonAdvisor: Kimberle Koile

Problem: How can activity zones be used to aid lighting design?

System can learn: Where people are over time (Activity Zones) What areas are lit over time (Lighting Zones)

System can then: Communicate the motion of a play Test lighting design ideas Communicate details of lighting design Control lighting systems Teach people about production

Existing Activity Zone System

Working system implemented in CSAIL as part of Project Oxygen People tracked by camera

or generate simulated data

Infer zones by observing behavior over time

Allow users to relate zones to actions or context features

Building Upon Existing System

3 Necessary Components Location Awareness – What zones do people inhabit?

What areas are lit? Script (Time) Awareness – Where in the script is the

action taking place? Agent using context information to process and act

upon information in a way useful to designers

Step 1:Location Awareness: Tracking to Zones

Problems: Resolving zones from tracking data: Current algorithms

create many small zones where one large one would be desirable when presented with small tracking data set.

Need second set of lighting zones Solution:

Merge zones by defining activities zones in relation to where people are for sections of the script (scenes, between cues). Combine all zones that exist during one section into a larger zone Input lighting zones as either complete zone or lighting source and beam information.

Step 2:Script Awareness

Script Awareness enables a better interpretation of the actions taking place Meaning of an action comes from the context

surrounding that action In a play, that context comes from the script

Create a “super” script allowing a connection to be made between movement and text Maintain audio and text copes of script Relates movement to appropriate point in script

Step 3:The Agent: Using gathered information

Create an Agent to combine data and aid designers through: Playback: Show lighting designers how stage is used Integration: Determine if people are always lit (all

activity zones are contained by lighting zones) Communication: Convey design ideas: show changes

in lighting zones as the play progresses over time. Control: If an actor accidentally steps into an unlit

area, turn on the light best situated to illuminate him.

Resources & Dependencies

Working with Kimberle Koile in collaboration with Royal Shakespeare Company

Building upon current Project Oxygen Activity Zone system

Need a method of collecting rehearsal or performance tracking information Simulate data (Exists to simulate single person) Use existing Project Oxygen activity zones setup

room and record data while performing

Short Term Plan

Further meetings with Kimberle KoileLearn existing Activity Zone systemTake 6.871 – Knowledge Base SystemsUROP in SpringBegin Thesis

Where can this idea go?

3D rendering of dynamic lighting designExpanding to aid other theatrical areas:

Technical Direction Costume Design Adapting touring shows to new spaces

Conclusion

Activity zones and context aware computing can be used to aid lighting design

Expanding activity zone system to use both lighting and activity zones

Creating an agent which can use this zone information to aid in the development, testing, communication and realization of a lighting design.