This Developers Conference aims to provide a European forum for manufacturers, designers, consultants and prospective users; and to ensure that the adoption of these new standards achieves desired levels of interoperability and reliability.
The conference includes presentations in understanding, implementing and using the published PLASA control protocols suites. Discussions will also embrace the current protocol developments that form part of the PLASA Technical Standards Programme. The past 12 months has seen considerable advancement in the development of RDMnet - with various drafts of BSR E1.33 being offered for public review, so this is an active topic for consideration.
The Plugfest is a hands-on opportunity for product developers to try their products and code implementations with products from a variety of other manufacturers, with support from their industry peers in an environment that encourages co-operation and improved understanding of the standards, and with the aim of achieving high levels of interoperability. Typically, engineers participate in these events with the ability to code and debug aspects of their implementations on site, sometimes retreating to their hotel rooms to craft improvements before returning to the Plugfest to continue testing.
The sessions, despite their apparent informality, can be a valuable opportunity to learn how not to make the same mistakes, or misguided assumptions, as others may have done.
Participation is by invitation, and limited to registered delegates. The conference is designed to appeal to lighting designers, system integrators, theatre consultants, production electricians, rental company technical staff and product development engineers. The focus for Thursday will be broad, and designed to appeal to all categories of participant. Friday and Saturday will be orientated towards product development engineers who are either considering or actively implementing these standards.
A single registration fee of UK£60 per person, payable in advance, covers participation and a buffet lunch. Delegates may attend one or more days as they think appropriate. The registration fee is fixed, regardless of the number of days you attend, but you are required to indicate your proposed level of participation in advance.
Further information and signup is available at www.plasa.org/rdm/. Any enquiries should be directed to Ron Bonner at PLASA. (ron.bonner@plasa.org).
(Jim Evans
