![\"Alec](\"http:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Connolly-and-tree-web.jpg\")
<\/a>Alec Connolly, a UT junior majoring in electrical engineering who is working a co-op at iHeartMedia, posed for a photo by the lights that he synced for 101.5’s Christmas on the River.<\/p><\/div>\u201cMy boss, Gary Fullhart [market director of engineering and information technology at iHeartMedia] came up with the idea, and we brainstormed and put the project together,\u201d Connolly said. \u201cHe went up to Bronner\u2019s in Frankenmuth, Mich., and he put this big bag of Christmas lights on my desk, and that\u2019s when I knew it was actually going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a twinkle in his eye, Connolly began researching the project. By April, the UT engineering student had three units built for stations in Toledo, Lima and Napoleon.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the Christmas displays that you see are programmed to prerecorded songs; they pick 10 or 15 songs, and they program each individual light,\u201d Connolly explained. \u201cWhat we wanted to do is program it in real time. I can\u2019t program every single light because on the radio, it\u2019s random Christmas songs that play, so I wanted to do it in real time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Add a Raspberry Pi \u2014 a computer about the size of a credit card \u2014 running the free software LightShow Pi and it\u2019s the most wonderful time of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Raspberry Pi actually listens to the audio and converts it to the lights, which is what you see on the tree,\u201d Connolly said. \u201cPlaying along to the music, the tree looks absolutely fantastic.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an interesting work that Alec has done,\u201d Dr. Mansoor Alam, professor and chair of electrical engineering and computer science, said. \u201cThis shows that electrical engineering is not just hard work, but is also fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI visited Alec\u2019s employer, iHeart Media, and talked to him about this project earlier this year,\u201d Karen J. Gauthier, associate co-op director for electrical and computer science engineering, said. \u201cHis enthusiasm and willingness to go the extra mile to complete a project was evident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Synchronizing holiday songs and the lights proved inspirational for Connolly: \u201cI\u2019m planning to get the materials and make a unit again so that my house next year will have a display set up that\u2019s synced to the River as well.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Sylvania resident wrote about the project for Radio World; read his article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n