CNN debuts hologram technology to beam people in 3-D (Machinist)

[DrewWilson]

Among the wackiest technologies that I've seen during this election night is CNN's hologram technology -- something that was predicted back in the Star Wars era.

There's not much info as to exactly how this stuff works, other than what USA Today has reported:

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.

Jessica Yellin was the first CNN reporter to be "beamed" to the New York newsroom, where Wolf Blitzer interviewed her -- and she reported that there were only 35 cameras pointed at her, and that "talk to the cameras in New York." Apparently representatives in the Obama campaign in Chicago and the McCain campaign in Phoenix will be interviewed as holograms later in the evening.

More... (http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/11/04/cnn_hologram/)

Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thOxW19vsTg)

Maybe one of the few times new technology wasn't introduced by the army first for civilian usage... though I'm probably wrong on that.

[mountain_rage]

This could just be a misconception on my part, but I think this "hologram" is actually augmented reality system. They are using the multiple camera angles to create a dynamic 3d model of the individual and placing it in the video.

[DrewWilson]

What I found strange was the fact that they were using high definition cameras, yet the frame rate was horrible (for HD) I hope that was just a crappy comcast connection that caused this. ;)

[mountain_rage]

The amount of information they would have to stream for the model would be quite large. So for now that is probably the best resolution you are going to get.

From the information I've found it is in fact augmented reality and not a hologram. As usual, news screws up its understanding of technology. Its basically no different than their 3d White house. Its a cool effect but in no way shape or form a hologram.

[DrewWilson]

What I don't understand then, is, why use HD cameras to transfer the data? Why not use normal definition cameras to ensure a smoother transfer?

[thelastfreeman]

Like most video technological improvements, this will likely be implemented in the pron industry first. I, for one, would like to have 3D pron beamed straight into the home on a holo disk.

[DrewWilson]

Heheh. I can picture the scenario now:

"I've been using this thing for months... wait, what does the box say again?

'programmed with artificial intelligence using the most sophisticated technology...'

I've been f***ing robots this whole time???"

[Feather]

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/11/05/tech-holograms.html

[mountain_rage]

What I don't understand then, is, why use HD cameras to transfer the data? Why not use normal definition cameras to ensure a smoother transfer?

My guess is they need the high definition video to properly render the model, after which it goes into some powerful servers for processing. That processing produces a model, which can be reduced to whatever resolution they want. Its possible that the image we saw was with a downgraded resolution. Either way, as Feather and I posted, it was not a hologram, just an over glorified blue screen.

[DrewWilson]

Yeah, a picture of someone put on the screen, so it gave Wolf Blitzer an excuse to talk to thin air. :)