Beaming alive the dead
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A person could also make his avatar so real that if he stood next to it, no one could tell who the real one was.
Fans attending the Coachella Festival were shocked this year when the late rapper Tupac Shakur appeared on stage along with his pals Dr Dre and Snoop Dog to entertain the crowd. Tupac sang two songs. Many actually thought he was alive and back till his image disintegrated on stage.
The rapper was brought back from the dead for a short time to spice up the festival.
But this was not the first time when a celebrity’s holographic image was used to entertain fans. In 2006 it wasn’t Madonna but her holographic image that showed up on stage to perform at the Grammys. And her image performed with an animated holographic band called the Gorrillaz.
The Black Eyed Peas too are fans of this technology. Will.i.am’s holographic form once showed up to give an interview and he and his band mates often perform at two different venues. In one there will be the real Will.i.am with a holographic Fergie for example and viceversa.
The technology has proven to be such a hit that animated artistes who have no human selves, have proven to be a huge hits as well. Hatsune Miku, a Japanese singing sensation, is an animated creation whose 3-D self has been performing live since 2010. Hatsune is such a hit that there are online petitions demanding that she perform at the upcoming London Olympics.
But it’s just not rockstars who find this technology helpful. Several doctors, businessmen, film actors and educationists have expressed interest in the project now available in India and some of them have already ordered for their holographs to be set up.
Eminent eye specialist Dr Kasu Prasad Reddy would be the first doctor in the country to possess the technology when he gets his holograph made next month. Dr Reddy, who saw a few holographs, explains, “It becomes easier for patients to know what and where exactly the problem is. For instance, the patient will be able to see through the holographic heart the flow of blood and the narrowing down of the blood vessels, if any.
Chips in Raj Kasu, “Holography can also address the shortage of expert teachers. For instance, an expert sitting in a major city can ‘appear’ in a class room in a remote village and interact with students, answering their questions.”
Rajendra Prasad Maganti, chairman Soma Infrastructure, was so thrilled after he saw a demo that he had made up his mind to utilise it to interact with his employees in branch offices. “This is a wonderful technology, which will be of great help to the corporate world,” he says.
Sources close to YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy say that Jagan had shown interest in learning more about this technology. Rumour also has it that South superstar Chiranjeevi’s family was excited after a presentation was given to them. It is also rumoured that BJP leader L.K. Advanu is very interested in using this technology as well.
Meanwhile, on the spirituality front, Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Ashram in Mysore has also shown interest. H.V. Prasad, executive trustee says, “Holography, I feel, will be of immense use to devotees staying in far-off places as they can see the Swamiji delivering discourse, performing puja and healing patients through music therapy.” Also imagine how happy devotees will be if Satya Sai Baba comes back. The KasuMani team has also proposed to set up a huge hologram of Lord Sri Venkateswara in Tirumala.
In marriage functions, too, holography can be handy. One can see special shows by celebrities; the bride and groom can dance with the hottest celebrities, all holograms of course. Also since the star won’t actually be there, the bride’s father can also ask for a discount!
Shortage of security staff at airports and high-security installations too can be overcome by simply employing “holostaff.” A recent experiment at two airports in the UK was a huge success with many passengers mistaking them for actual security guards. Some passengers were spotted giving the “holostaff ” their passports.
Observes Ian O’Connell, director of Musion, “With India experiencing phenomenal growth and the market opening up to the possibilities of Musion, we are extremely excited to be expanding our presence in the territory.”