| Election night 2008 was an historic night. Barrack | | | | and conferences? We already have web |
| Obama became the first ever African American | | | | conferencing tools available, just think how much |
| President-Elect of the United States. Crowds in | | | | more effective it could be with face to virtual face |
| America and around the world watched his | | | | contact - and how much more efficient. |
| groundbreaking election as this 44th President of the | | | | - Education: Could professors perform lectures from |
| United States. On this same night, groundbreaking | | | | the comfort of their offices? Or possibly students |
| technology was used to report election night | | | | attend classes from the comfort of their homes? |
| coverage as well. | | | | - Counseling or Medical Services: Instead of calling |
| As this major first in American history took placed, a | | | | your therapist, counselor or other medical |
| first in American news technology took place as well. | | | | professional could you have a virtual consultation? |
| CNN reporter Jessica Yelin became the first television | | | | What happens to the office visit co-pay then? |
| anchor to appear in studio, not in person, but as a | | | | - Recreation: Is this the next step in recreation? |
| hologram. During CNN's election night reporting a | | | | Could people actually use this for recreational travel? |
| holographic 3D, 360 degree image of Yelin in Chicago | | | | Or could it be the next new technology for video |
| was "transmitted" to CNN's election center in New | | | | games, taking the "Wii" system several steps into |
| York. During election night coverage, it appeared as if | | | | the future? |
| she was a "real" part of the news coverage from | | | | - Virtual Banking: Can I save myself a trip to the |
| the New York studio. | | | | bank and complete basic services as well as loan and |
| Technology has been commonly used on the road to | | | | credit applications as a hologram? |
| the White House. For years political parties and | | | | - Virtual Shopping: Can holographic imagery give virtual |
| lobbyist have been able to use e-mail to reach large | | | | shopping a whole new meaning? Would we move |
| audiences. This year we saw technology used in new | | | | beyond the express lane and self service lanes, to |
| ways during the election beginning with "text | | | | virtual checkouts? |
| messages" from President -Elect Barak Obama | | | | With any new technology there are also new issues |
| announcing his Vice Presidential candidacy. Entire cable | | | | and questions that arise. CNN's holographic news |
| channels were purchased to broadcast a candidate's | | | | anchor has already stirred a pot of unanswered |
| platform and finally on election night we witnessed | | | | questions. |
| the introduction of a holographic news anchor to | | | | -Who owns the image or hologram? |
| walk the United States through the election night | | | | -What happens when enterprising individuals learn less |
| process. | | | | expensive and complicated ways of created a |
| How did CNN create the hologram? | | | | holographic image? |
| CNN used 35 HD cameras shooting different shots at | | | | -Could it be possible to capture my image and use it |
| different angles. The shots were synchronized with | | | | for identification, shopping or even medical services |
| the cameras in New York. Twenty computers were | | | | just to name a few? |
| used to process to process the data. Many people's | | | | -Could holographic images be the next new |
| first reaction was that this hologram reporter was | | | | technology in identity theft, fraud or other financial |
| something straight out of Star Trek. That's exactly | | | | crimes? |
| what John Chambers was shooting for. John | | | | Of course new technologies that offer convenience |
| Chambers, of Cisco Systems and Martin De Beer of | | | | invariably also come with the potential for abuse. |
| Emerging Technology made this Star Trek like | | | | E-mail brought many amazing luxuries but also raised |
| hologram a television reality. | | | | the risk of identity theft through spam and phishing. |
| Holographic news anchors have not yet become | | | | The laws governing technology are always waves |
| commonplace but already there is much excitement | | | | behind the new technologies as they come ashore. |
| and speculation about the possible uses of | | | | With every more useful emerging technology such as |
| holographic imagery for virtual presentations in the | | | | a holographic image there is a need to not only look |
| future. | | | | to the future uses, but the future threats to our |
| Where will we see holographic imagery and virtual | | | | safety and identity that these types of new |
| presentations next? | | | | technology bring. If individuals begin to use |
| - Business Travel: Could holograms be the next | | | | holographic imagery for personal purposes, will |
| alternative to business travel, meetings, presentations | | | | holographic identity theft be the next logical step? |