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seeker1111
05-11-2008, 01:30 AM
Just saw a holographic interview on CNN. Interesting time to begin using this technology on live television during such a monumental event.


Frankly, we here at Posted were still pretty impressed by all the futuristic zooming and swooshing of CNN's fancy Magic Map — but not content to rest on its multi-touch collaborative wall laurels, the news network is apparently planning to ratchet up the futuristicness (futuristicality?) of its election coverage even more tonight by introducing 3D holograms into the mix. Yes, you read right. 3D freaking holograms. We'll give you a moment to wipe up that coffee you just spit all over your monitor. Okay, all set? From USA Today:

It's election night, and CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer is in New York talking to an Obama campaign strategist in Chicago.

But instead of the split screen or window TV viewers might typically see during live remote interviews, the Obama spokesperson will be projected as a three-dimensional hologram, making it appear as if he or she is in the Manhattan studio with Blitzer. The network plans to conduct similar holographic interviews with representatives from the McCain campaign in Phoenix.

CNN hopes to unveil the technology, which is still being fine-tuned, prior to the election on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, USA Today reports. After exclaiming, "It's so complicated," CNN Senior Vice President David Bohrman goes on to explain the process:

CNN will have 44 cameras and 20 computers in each remote location to capture 360-degree imaging data of the person being interviewed. Images are processed and projected by computers and cameras in New York. There'll also be plasma TVs in Chicago and Phoenix that will let the people being interviewed see Blitzer and other CNN correspondents. Bohrman says the network can project two different views from each city so Blitzer can appear to be in the studio with two holograms.

Bohrman won't disclose the cost, but says, "We're on our budget for election night."

All we want to know is, can Blitzer make through the night without once referencing the Princess Leia holographic message scene from Star Wars? We say if he doesn't, he's simply not human.


http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/11/04/tonight-on-cnn-interview-with-a-hologram.aspx


It sounds a lot like a wacky dream, but don't be surprised if within our lifetime you find yourself discarding your plasma and LCD sets in exchange for a holographic 3-D television that can put Cristiano Ronaldo in your living room or bring you face-to-face with life-sized versions of your gaming heroes.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/06/holographic.television/

little_miss
05-11-2008, 02:21 AM
I just watched that too...very very strange!! Can't get my head around it, just makes you think what they're capable of!

yellow jacket
05-11-2008, 03:23 AM
"Help me Obiwan Kenobi...you're my only hope"

lewi
05-11-2008, 04:01 AM
I hate the false backgorunds they use and try to make out there reporters are there on the scene.

Flase Blue screens and projecters trying there best to get the fan pointed just right for the breeze effect.

Perfectic and they think we dont know well we do and its ridiculous and i for one am sick to death of it !!

realreality
05-11-2008, 05:47 AM
They're getting Hologram mixed up with CGI on this occassion.

Holograms are 3d images projected so that people can see them physically. The male news reporter in the clip could not physically see the female correspondant.

The females image was simply placed inside the video just like the Background that Lewi loves to death ! This gives the assumption that he can see her, but really only the viewer can.

I wish they wouldnt use the term Hologram so freaking lightly.

Technology nerd out.

mynameis
05-11-2008, 06:06 AM
They're getting Hologram mixed up with CGI on this occassion.

Holograms are 3d images projected so that people can see them physically. The male news reporter in the clip could not physically see the female correspondant.

The females image was simply placed inside the video just like the Background that Lewi loves to death ! This gives the assumption that he can see her, but really only the viewer can.

I wish they wouldnt use the term Hologram so freaking lightly.

Technology nerd out.

I wonder what kind of disc storage those computers are running on? How the heck do they cool them?

realreality
05-11-2008, 06:19 AM
They would have to be using high spec machines. Most PC's kitted out for video editing and 3d Design have at least 4gb of ram, 2.4 - 3.0Ghz dual core processor ( possibly even Quad core ) and can contain hard drives from as little as 120gb's to 4tb's.

I suspect that they would have been using custom IBM or Dell machines for the task as large american companies tend to favour those two companies for their reliability and proformance.