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How CNN tried to make holograms a thing for their 2008 election coverage
It was a night of holograms, the Magic Wall, and a moment when the network let their technological freak flag fly.
While the moment Obama took the stage at Chicago’s Grant Park to deliver his acceptance speech might be the photo that the history books use to commemorate the event, viewers at home may still have the searing visuals of correspondent Jessica Yellin and Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am being beamed into the network’s New York studio in “hologram” form imprinted in their recollections of the night. Jason Odell, inventor of the hologram effect for CNN’s 2008 election night: David [Bohrman] and I worked together at TechTV … and we always stayed in touch and would have breakfast at NAB [the National Association of Broadcasters trade show] and talk. The other big innovation introduced in 2008 was CNN’s Multi-Touch Collaboration Wall technology—later dubbed “the Magic Wall.” The touch-screen display allows anchors to interact in real time with voting data, electoral maps, polling results, and more.Initially intended to debut on presidential election night along with the holograms, Bohrman said the technology was “ too good to wait,” and it made its first appearance during January’s Iowa caucuses.
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