Insights · November 4th, 2008

The election is the big news, and we’ll reflect on that in good time.

But tonight something else happened of significance. CNN broadcast a hologram, as a correspondent was holographically projected into the Blitzer set. The technique sounded a lot like the one I saw pioneered in 2002 at the Human Interface Technology Lab (HITL) at the University of Washington, where I was a visiting scholar. The software was developed by Mark Billinghurst, the director of a similar lab now in New Zealand. What system CNN used is not clear, but it sounds similar.

The technique is to surround a subject with multiple cameras, and then stitch the images together in real time, and send it all over the Net. What you see is a full, three-dimensional person, whom you can see from any angle. Watch the CNN effort here from YouTube, or better yet see a full version of the CNN segment via Brightcove at this Huffington Post site.

Impressive – and the future of communication in action.

Yep, it is Pincess Leia (Jessica Yellin, some 1000 miles distant from Blitzer). Wolf you are my only hope!

Glen Hiemstra is a futurist speaker, consultant, blogger, internet TV show host and founder of Futurist.com. To arrange for a speech contact Futurist.com.

Category
Science & Tech
Nikolas Badminton – Chief Futurist

Nikolas Badminton

Nikolas is the Chief Futurist of the Futurist Think Tank. He is world-renowned futurist speaker, a Fellow of The RSA, and has worked with over 300 of the world’s most impactful companies to establish strategic foresight capabilities, identify trends shaping our world, help anticipate unforeseen risks, and design equitable futures for all. In his new book – ‘Facing Our Futures’ – he challenges short-term thinking and provides executives and organizations with the foundations for futures design and the tools to ignite curiosity, create a framework for futures exploration, and shift their mindset from what is to WHAT IF…

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