PD Shimmers Thanks our Sponsors for 2012
Voted Plymouth's Best 2012
763-550-1205
3570 Vicksburg Lane N, Ste 100, Plymouth MN 55447
763-473-4667 | 1-888-FOURSOM
The Dream of a Man "Unshaken" by Parkinson's Disease
The dream began as a simple light show set to music, maybe 8 channels for a few hundred lights. That was the initial vision circa Christmas 2009. For its' premier, PD Shimmers was a 16 Channel display boasting 7 fresh cut trees holding 8000 lights. Hard to believe that in less than 36 months the transformation to "Imagination 2012" has taken place.
Imagine:
- A synchronized light show with over 160 channels.
- 40000 Shimmering lights.
- A Mega tree that towers to nearly 17'.
- A 25' Flowering Crab tree basked in the glow of lights.
- A video screen incorporated into the show.
- A computer control system that uses wireless tech to:
- Perform a "live" show using a Wii guitar
- Play "guitar hero" and be scored using the lights.
- "Unplug" the control boxes from the CAT5 cable tethers.
More Channels, More Lights, More Shimmer!
In fact,
So much shimmer one home can't contain it!
.....What?
Imagine!
Imagination 2012! PDShimmers III.
How Parkinson's Disease influences the production of PD Shimmers
- Challenge- Difficulty with sense of balanceParkinson's disease impacts one's ability to maintain a sense of balance. The challenge here is how to design a show that doesn't need or has very limited use of a ladder.
The solution for the 15' mega tree was to utilize a design incorporating a crank up telescoping central support pole where the lights can be hung a ground level and then raised to final height.
A make shift extension pole was created from a hockey stick by cutting a "V" notch in the toe of the stick. - Challenge- Overcome symptoms of stiffness and rigidityParkinson's disease is a movement disorder. In this case the body's muscles have a hard time "getting started", leaving the patient stiff and rigid. almost statue like. Medication along with strenuous physical exercise relieve these symptoms so work on the light show must be timed to the medications peak benefit times.
- Challenge- Control of motor skill
Parkinson's usually impacts one limbs making even simple tasks difficult. Picture a person who has difficulty brushing their teeth or cutting food with a knife, employing the dexterity to work a mouse within a "paint" environment on a computer or to solder a electronic resistor the thickness of a hair to a PC board. This is overcome by thoughtful planning of time, medication timing and keeping a good skillset of physical exercjses. - Show More
By the Numbers
- 3 24 Channel Dimmable Renard
- 5 16 Channel Dimmable Renard
- 3 8 Channel Dimmable Renard
- 5 4 Channel Dimmable Renard
- 50,000 Lights
- 3,000 feet of wire
- 2,000 "Zip" ties
- 500' PVC
- 25 Songs Sequenced
- 500 programming hours
- 200 development hours for Sparkle