ABC Television Studios

Beginning in 1984, BIRKET Engineering delivered a series of rigging control systems to ABC/Capital Cities and affiliate stations. The systems operate on the Peter Jennings, Good Morning America, All My Children, and other sets. These systems facilitate the positioning of lighting grids and pipes above the stage floor. Different "cue configurations" are entered into the system and memorized for future use. The system makes it easy to reconfigure the grids and pipes to match the requirements of sets as they are removed and reconstructed.

The user interface for the more recent systems is touch screen based. Although we delivered an operator's manual and a maintenance manual, the operator's manual is not often used because the system is self-training. The buttons on each of the screens have obvious meanings and lead to a succession of screens in a process that seems natural and intuitive.