The Beam Me Up, Scotty Hologram on CNN: Cool or Creepy?
by Kara Swisher
Posted on November 5, 2008 at 5:15 AM PT
BoomTown has finally gotten used to the silly gee-gaws television networks use on election night, like touchscreen maps and drawing all over the screen and jump-up numbers.
But one used by CNN last night–a hologram of various people beamed into the studio to look like they were with Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper–was downright freaky.
Using lots of high-definition cameras, fancy computers and, I guess, magic, CNN reporter Jessica Yellin (see video below) was the first one to get the “Star Trek” treatment, beaming in from Chicago to New York.
Later, hip-hop musician Will.i.am was beamed in and preferred a “Star Wars” analogy. But the encounter was still kind of awkward, although you honestly could not look away either, as you can see from the video below (also coming in from Chicago).
Jessica Yellin:
Will.i.am:
Comments
Definitely a bit creepy! Probably very cool in person, but recaptured for the screen and broadcast, the magic is somewhat lost in translation…
(Not to mention the fact that the face is what makes a talking head interesting — the rest of it really doesn’t play; And to use a hologram like that takes attention from the substance and hangs it on the form. That said we’ll see it again I’m sure!)
Posted by Adrian Chan at November 5th, 2008 at 11:49 am