CNN’s cool hologram technology also used tonight

November 4, 2008 | Dean Takahashi | Comments | |

In addition to its Magic Wall touchable maps, CNN is also using some cool hologram technology tonight to interview guests from afar. The guests appear to be in the room and move about in three dimensions, even though their images are being beamed in from somewhere else.

USA Today says CNN has 44 cameras and 20 computers in each remote location to capture 360-degree imaging data of the person being interviewed. Those images are processed by computers and cameras in New York. The interviewees will be able to see host Wolf Blitzer and other CNN correspondents as they’re talking. What will they say? “Obi-wan Kenobi. You are my only hope.” (A Star Wars Princess Leia reference, for those of you lacking in pop culture trivia).

By comparison, Comedy Central’s tech looks pretty tame: Comedy Central is teaming with social-networking site Meebo. The channel, which is home to political comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, is using Meebo’s rooms to host political chats for its online audience.

Next Story: OncoMed nabs $93M for stem cell programs
Previous Story: Causes helps 1.6M Facebook users get out the vote — largest online rally in history

Bookmark and Share

Tags:

Photo of Dean Takahashi

About the Author, Dean Takahashi

Dean is lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He covers video games, security, chips and a variety of other subjects. Dean previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News, the Wall Street Journal, the Red Herring, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register and the Dallas Times Herald. He is the author of two books, Opening the Xbox and the Xbox 360 Uncloaked. Follow him on Twitter at @deantak, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.