Tag: Olympics

Panasonic Unveils FULL HD 3D Theatre for Olympics

If you’re lucky enough to be at the Olympic Games in Vancouver do you really want to check out TV? Actually, maybe you do, at least if its Panasonic’s Full HD 3D Theatre, which will show off the company’s new HDTVs. So if you’re in Vancouver, but can’t see the opening ceremonies or other events, head over to one of the two Panasonic theatres at David Lam Park, which will be showcasing the Opening Ceremony, as well as highlights of the 2010 Winter Games including the video of Sarah Brightman performing Panasonic’s song, “Shall be Done.”

The Panasonic sets will be released later this year, and available in 50-inch, 54-inch, 58-inch and a massive 65-inch screen sizes. These reproduced images alternately at 60 frames per second for each eye for a total of 120 frames per second. To experience this users do need the viewer to wear high-precision 3D eyewear with shutters driven in synchronization with the video, but viewers are treated to separate 1920×1080 full-HD images. So even if you can’t make it to Vancouver, you’ll be able to feel like you’re in London for the next Summer Olympics in 2012.

Let the High Tech Games Begin

The Olympics Games that will kick off this week could just go down in history as the most high tech ever. And while there will be no shortage of space age materials with the clothing, as well as nifty new improvements to the skates, sleds and skis, the real tech boon is in how the games are being delivered to the masses.

Our friends at Cnet.com are reporting that there will be more than 5,000 kilometers of cables, more than 40,000 Ethernet ports, more than 6,000 PCs, more than 3,000 TVs, more than 7,000 two-way radios and more than 7,000 radios used by the organizers to deliver the games. Consider that with the very first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 it took days for results to reach America, and now access to results will be instantaneous. One major change this year is that unlike in past years, all video, data and voice will traverse one IP network set up Atos Origin, Bell Canada and Avaya. To manage all this, the Olympic organizers now even have a full-time CIO on board. Let the games begin, and may the network not go down!

AP Keeps You Updated on Vancouver Olympics

With the Vancouver 2010 Olympics about a week away, our interest is peaked. KineticShift will report on some of the news, but we’re looking at athletes’ gear and clothing as well as the technology used to judge results. For results and other news, we look to a few news outlets. Top on our list is a site created by the Associated Press to cover the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Go to http://wintergames.ap.org to check out all the events surrounding the Games. AP, which has covered the Olympics since the Games were revived in 1896, will post coverage from its sports writers, related stories from other writers, and produce a daily Webcast, “Beyond the Medal” hosted by snowboarder and reality TV personality Jesse Csincsak.

Rudy Project Eyes Medals in 2010 Olympics

Rudy Project Noyz sunglasses
Rudy Project Noyz sunglasses are a pick for 2010 Olympic athletes.

As the Olympics gear up athletes are at the ready. Eyewear and helmet manufacturer Rudy Project outfitted many competitors in Turin in 2006, and will outfit many more in Vancouver 2010. While goggles and helmets will be in order for certain sports, the Noyz Fluo will cover many eyes. The Fluo version of the Noyz sunglasses have a technicolored-look, though the Noyz model is available in many bold colors. The lenses have ImpactX sun technology, which allows for a lighter lens, adds impact resistance, and doesn’t stress crack or craze. For sight, the lenses have favorable optical properties with a lower light refraction index, internal stress, and chromatic dispersion than comparable polycarbonate lenses. This brings a lower surface reflection and higher definition and sharper images.

The Rudy Project was just named the exclusive eyewear and helmet supplier for the USRowing, a three-year partnership including support of the U.S. National Team in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In Turin, Rudy Project gear was on athletes who won 45 medals (18 gold, 13 silver, and 14 bronze). This winter Olympics athletes from Germany, Finland, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Italy plan to wear eyewear from this Rudy Project.

What Dartfish Means for Figure Skating

With the Olympic Games just weeks away we know there will be some controversy over how a judge missed something in a figure skating performance. Whilst the same thing happens with gymnastics and diving in the summer games, it is always figure skating where a judge just didn’t see something that potentially could mean the difference on who gets the gold.

This is why the Dartfish technology is worth mentioning. This computer video program can be used to analyze figure skating jumps and spins, helping judges make those extra special decisions. But more importantly this technology’s “SimulCam” and “StroMotion” features offer the advantage of giving skaters and couches the ability to compare performances in a frame-by-frame way that was never previously possible.

The SimulCam offers the ability to compare two different athletes, but over the same terrain, while the StroMotion offers a peek at precise movement, technique, execution and tactics over the same space and time. So instead of going to the tape, judges and fans can now go to the fish!

For motion information: Dartfish Web site