The Stage Manager Simulator was the first project created by my company, SM-Sim, LLC. It was speech recognition software coupled with real-time feedback components for students and early-career stage managers to learn how to call cues. The software, showcased at the 2013 USITT Annual Convention, ran on Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems with plans for expansion into Mac OS.
While the 85+ live demonstrations at the 2013 USITT Conference generated a lot of enthusiasm for the new software, the follow-up conversations with potential educational partners revealed a cost dilemma. The cost of third party software components and performance royalties, coupled with the security compliance requirements of individual schools, would push this software out of the reach of the original intended audience of students. So SM-Sim, LLC, is currently in the research phase of a browser-based simulator. This new format would allow individual students to access the simulator on their own computers - and mobile devices - without needing to download new software. Speech recognition software is improving in both speed and cost. While we rebuild the simulator, no versions are available for use due to the original royalty agreements.
While the 85+ live demonstrations at the 2013 USITT Conference generated a lot of enthusiasm for the new software, the follow-up conversations with potential educational partners revealed a cost dilemma. The cost of third party software components and performance royalties, coupled with the security compliance requirements of individual schools, would push this software out of the reach of the original intended audience of students. So SM-Sim, LLC, is currently in the research phase of a browser-based simulator. This new format would allow individual students to access the simulator on their own computers - and mobile devices - without needing to download new software. Speech recognition software is improving in both speed and cost. While we rebuild the simulator, no versions are available for use due to the original royalty agreements.
Concept Art of the New User Interface for the Stage Manager Simulator
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Video prepared for 2013 USITT Conference. No sound as the video ran on the Stage Expo (trade show) floor.
Video includes footage from original version of simulator. |