Dias' creative approach to lighting design was the most impressive point of interest to Martin. The recession continues to impact the lighting industry in Portugal, so the lack of proper equipment forces Dias and his crew of four friends to be creative when hired for a gig. During events, the team has to make on-the-fly repairs and adjustments on the hardware side and customize software, so they continuously turned to the Martin Forum and YouTube for inspiration.
As a student of electronics at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, Dias is used to working in the cross field between hardware and technology. One of his recent school projects was an application written for the Microsoft Kinect that allows him to control the light with simple gestures. His next step is a project combining gestures and voice control of light in a stage environment.
During their visit, Dias and his father visited the Martin production facilities in Frederikshavn and HQ in Aarhus, where they had a tour of the R&D department and experienced a lighting demonstration in the Martin showroom. They also spent time with Martin employees, such as Ricardo's longtime industry hero, product manager Paul Pelletier.
"They were born and raised in the digital age. Technology does not intimidate them - it is a natural part of their everyday lives," states Pelletier. "Maybe this is why technology has becomes part of the solution for Ricardo and his peers."
(Jim Evans)
