Happy Chinese New Year! To welcome the Year of the Snake, I thought it would be appropriate to look at one of the most exciting things about this festive period--the fireworks. A lot of countries like to celebrate with fireworks, but nobody does it better than the Chinese.
For hundreds of years, fireworks have been pretty straightforward. You light the fuse igniting the gunpowder and a firework is shot in the air. After a few moments it explodes in a rainbow of various colors depending on the composition.
However, if you take a cruise on the Bund or at some other ideal spot, you'll notice an extremely complex choreography of light and sound. To pull off these incredible performances, pyrotechnics are turning more and more to computer software technology to plan and execute their fiery masterpieces.
Globally, there are a number of firms that create similar software for designing, simulating and scripting fireworks events. One of the oldest franchises is Visual Show Director (VSD) by Infinity Visions, which has been around since 1996. Similarly there are the visually impressive Fanale and ShowSim.
The software enables the designer to choose from a wide range of fireworks and effects and simulate numerous variables like the firework design, color, height and trajectory with a simple drag and drop of a mouse. Choreographers can even play accompanying music to accentuate each simulated starburst. One of the coolest features of Fanale Fireworks is the ability to upload a photo of the event location providing a more authentic simulation. The software's 3D effects present each moment from any vantage point, allowing choreographers to improve blind spots.
Once a show has been programed and the fireworks are in position, the software is then capable of running the show. Instead of relaying commands through walky-talkies the program can more efficiently initiate each firing sequence, ensuring safety and well-timed shows. For large productions, hand-firing is almost nonexistent these days thanks to the latest tech innovations.
So for this New Years, while you're enjoy one of the hundreds of choreographed fireworks shows throughout China, just remember that it is both an art and a science.
Source: http://asia.cnet.com/the-tech-behind-fireworks-62220451.htm
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