College of Fine Arts

and

College of Engineering
Presents

SCOTT FISHER
Engineering projects are always defined by their specifications and requirements. However, in the world of engineering for entertainment, one of those specifications is often must operate as if by magic, which can be a challenging task for normal engineering practices. This seminar will address and discuss how engineering for the entertainment industry borrows and utilizes good engineering discipline while also retaining the flexibility and creativity necessary to meet the magic requirements. The advent and adoption of new techniques such as advanced CAD and simulation systems, additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping technologies, and precision CNC devices will be examined as both opportunities and potential traps for the engineer when designing machines and systems that real human beings will need to fabricate, operate, and maintain. How does a good engineer weigh and assess all of these seemingly disparate and contradictory requirements while still producing high quality, reliable, and safe designs that are both well-engineered machines and magical devices all at the same time? Examples from the world of entertainment engineering will be used to illustrate and amplify these concepts.

SCOTT FISHER

Scott Fisher is a 25 year veteran of the entertainment technology industry and founder of Fisher Technical Services (FTSI), a pioneer company in modern stage and entertainment machinery and control systems. With a clientele list spanning the full range of the entertainment industry from Disneyland to Jay-Z and James Bond to Cirque du Soleil, FTSI covered the full gamut of entertainment market segments and provided systems and solutions for some of the most challenging projects ever conceived in the business. Products, concepts, techniques, and procedures developed by FTSI continue to be utilized throughout the entertainment world today and into the future.

Friday, April, 4 2014 Porter Hall 100 | 1:00 - 2:00pm