CNN's holographic freakout begins, seems totally bizarre and unnecessary
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Nov 4th 2008 7:48PM
posted Nov 4th 2008 7:48PM
If you've been keeping your eyes fixed on CNN as this election unfolds, then by now you've seen Wolf Blitzer doing a "hologram" interview with Jessica Yellin. Not only does this technology seem completely creepy, but it's without a doubt one of the most useless and unnecessary pieces of phantasmagoric TV ever enacted. Enjoy some video and two more pics of the weirdness after the break.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Okay - the HD and the panel guests are great, but that hologram stunt has to be the worst feature ever on a news cast. Combined that with the 3D capitol, which crashed while using, and you get a wacko time filler.
I only saw it very briefly, but i thought it was totally rad and very cool!
WTF? That is pathetic. Particularly this evening. CNN can go #$%#$%. They need bootleg holographic magic to get them past this election. Where have they been the last 8 years? Embedding reporters?
Agreed, what a waste of time and money that was.
looks like it was composited into the broadcast image and not actually broadcast on stage.
CNN's coverage ROCKED!! I mean come on no other station pulled out the stops like they did. I almost fell out of my chair when the halographic interviews and capital images were on screen! Straight out of Star Wars. Top it off with that awesome touch screen and full HD I was in high def future tech election heaven! Obama 08!!
Both my wife and I thought the hologram was a bit creepy and totally unnecessary. We stayed with NBC, a network that made the best use of it's 16:9 side bars and other screen real estate.
Thought it worked well for what it was. The holographic interviews allow more of a one-on-one interview. It helps when for example, Will.i.am was in the crowd in Chicago but his interview was able to be heard because of the holograph. Other commentators that were within the crowds could not be heard due to the crowd noise on the floors.
Creepy? Unclench people. This is Engadget, not a Foxnews forum.
"Unclench people."
Funniest thing I've read in a week. Almost spilled my coffee. Thanks
It was all sort of cool (the 3D capitol was kind of neat, the holograms were a little dumb) until you realize (as anyone with half a brain would) that the people in the studio couldn't see any of it. It was just CG trickery for us watching at home. Now when they can do that stuff for real right in the room for everyone to see live, that's when I'll be impressed. But until then it's no more impressive than a CG Jar Jar Binks.
The holography didn't do anything to the crowd noise. They were in a building surrounded by 30+ cameras while giving the interview. This isn't magic.
Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, You're My Only Hope!