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Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
I came up with a hands free speed control for the iThread. It allows me to turn the speed of the reel up and down anytime I want. What's really cool about it is you don't use you hands, arms legs or feet to control it. So my hands and legs are completely free yet I can turn the speed up and down completely under my control. Those of you that know me know how much I use IT but using this is an entire new level. I feel like it's Christmas right now. You know that "I got a new toy" feeling. LOL
I had a camera on me while I was experimenting with using it. So I just put a few clips from that practice session video together. I think it demonstrates how cool it is to be able to control the speed and tension of the reel while performing. Hope you enjoy it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flpo8Q_dObk Ron Jaxon |
tbaer Inner circle Pennsylvania 2003 Posts |
I liked the cards on the floor and one of them flies back to you. That was very nice. The card didn't sag down at all. It was a nice fluid motion.
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edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Ron that was excellent. thanks for sharing this.
Magic is a vanishing art.
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Pauldela Special user U.K 882 Posts |
Sweet magic! Very magical!
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Not bad, Ron. The operation of the control is definitely not visible.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
Thanks guys.
I'll let you in on a little of how you control it. If you watch the video you'll see my upper body move very slightly. That small movement is me turning the speed up. Even when you see it you'll notice that the actions are still natural. What's really cool is you can move normally. It won't interfere with your movement when you're not using it it's easy to forget you even have it on you. But when you want to turn the speed up you just do it. This to me feels more like I'm doing "real magic" then anything I've ever used. You know how they say in martial arts that once you're accustomed to the weapon it's like an extension of yourself? That's what it's like when you use this. It'll take a little while to get used to it but once you do you don't even have to think about it. If for example your making a bill float and you want it to move up. When you're use to using it all you do is think about what you want to do and your body will just do it. I can't put into words how cool it feels to be able to do that. I'm going to Sean Bogunia's Monday and we'll shoot some more videos (Better quality then the one above). I'll also make a video of 2D animation using 2 iThreads. One will be on the wall and the other will be on my with the hands free speed control. I'll set the one on the wall to a medium speed and rig both to a floating object. By turning mine up and down I can cause the floating object to float away from me and back with complete control. I'm loving it. Ron Jaxon |
Proxy Veteran user 336 Posts |
Breaking new ground!
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Matthew Wright Special user 550 Posts |
I love the card flying back to you. I have been following Ithreads progress for quite a while now and I am getting more and more tempted.
I think that the upcoming video with 2 reels may just tip the balance. |
Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
Here it is. In this I have one iThread on my like an ITR using the hands free control. The second iThread is on the wall and it's speed is set to a medium speed. So by turning mine up it'll move toward me and turning mine down the one on the wall will pull it away form me.
But here's the bonus to being able to control the one I'm wearing in real time. IF I turn mine up at just the right speed I can walk toward or away from the floating object (As I walk toward it I turn mine up and walk away I turn mine down). Or I can walk and it moves with me. This is all possible because I can control the speed of the unit on me. I've never seen this possible before. You'll also notice that I do need more practice at controlling it. At times the movement it a little jerky and at times it's not. This is my fault. I just have to practice more at controlling the two units. It does take practice but I hope you can see what I mean. Anyway, here it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqs0leKWmG0 Ron Jaxon |
Matthew Wright Special user 550 Posts |
Are you making your hands free speed control available with Ithread?
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Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
Yes. Working on the design now. Kind of frustrating. The prototype works great but it's not something you can just slap on your iThread and use. That's what we're working on. So those who already own an iThread can just add this to it and start using it. Hopefully our latest design will be the ticket. Then we'll shoot the DVD for it because there are a variety of ways to use it. I'll keep you all up dated on it.
Ron Jaxon |
MagicB1S Inner circle Knoxville Tenn. 1039 Posts |
Ron, I wish I lived in Michigan so you can teach me. I love I-Thread work, I have just not worked with it enough to get good with it
"There are Tricks To All Trades.... My Trade is all Tricks"
"An amature practices until he gets it right. A Professional Practices until he can't get it wrong" www.Themagicchest.webs.com bobswislosky@yahoo.com |
Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
Well feel free to contact me anytime about it. Like any reel, especially one with this many features, will take some time to get use to. I can give you some practicing tips if it'll help. So let get a hold of my anytime.
Ron Jaxon |
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