Election night 2008 was an historic night. Barrack Obama became the first ever African American President-Elect of the United States. Crowds in America and around the world watched his groundbreaking election as this 44th President of the United States. On this same night, frontiernews groundbreaking technology was used to report election night coverage as well.
As this major first in American history took placed, a first in American news technology took place as well. CNN reporter Jessica Yelin became the first television anchor to appear in studio, not in person, but as a hologram. During CNN’s election night reporting a holographic 3D, 360 degree image of Yelin in Chicago was “transmitted” to CNN’s election center in New York. localletter During election night coverage, it appeared as if she was a “real” part of the news coverage from the New York studio.
Technology has been commonly used on the road to the White House. For years political parties and lobbyist have been able to use e-mail to reach large audiences. This year we saw technology used in new ways during the election beginning with “text messages” from President -Elect Barak Obama announcing his Vice Presidential candidacy. Entire cable channels were purchased to broadcast a candidate’s platform and finally on election night we witnessed the introduction of a holographic news anchor to walk the United States through the election night process. newspoke
How did CNN create the hologram?
CNN used 35 HD cameras shooting different shots at different angles. The shots were synchronized with the cameras in New York. topicals Twenty computers were used to process to process the data. Many people’s first reaction was that this hologram reporter was something straight out of Star Trek. That’s exactly what John Chambers was shooting for. John Chambers, of Cisco Systems and Martin De Beer of Emerging Technology made this Star Trek like hologram a television reality. tbadaily
Holographic news anchors have not yet become commonplace but already there is much excitement and speculation about the possible uses of holographic imagery for virtual presentations in the future.
Where will we see holographic imagery and virtual presentations next?
– Business Travel: Could holograms be the next alternative to business travel, meetings, presentations and conferences? We already have web conferencing tools available, kulfiy just think how much more effective it could be with face to virtual face contact – and how much more efficient.
– Education: Could professors perform lectures from the comfort of their offices? Or possibly students attend classes from the comfort of their homes?
– Counseling or Medical Services: Instead of calling your therapist, counselor or other medical professional could you have a virtual consultation? What happens to the office visit co-pay then?
– Recreation: Is this the next step in recreation? Could people actually use this for recreational travel? Or could it be the next new technology for video games, taking the “Wii” system several steps into the future?
– Virtual Banking: Can I save myself a trip to the bank and complete basic services as well as loan and credit applications as a hologram?
– Virtual Shopping: Can holographic imagery give virtual shopping a whole new meaning? Would we move beyond the express lane and self service lanes, to virtual checkouts?
With any new technology there are also new issues and questions that arise. CNN’s holographic news anchor has already stirred a pot of unanswered questions. pressmagazines
