A famous commercial from back in the day touted the benefits of Memorex cassettes by asking “Is it live, or is it Memorex?” Apparently, the quality was so good that it was hard to tell the difference.
Today’s music fans may be asking “Is it live or is it a hologram?” For it is this technology that is making it possible for Whitney Houston to go on tour again – yes, Whitney, who has been dead since 2012. “An Evening with Whitney” is scheduled to tour England utilizing CGI technology and holograms of the late singer, coupled with live music and dance.
For the press members who were treated to a preview, it seemed to be enjoyable — which could lead to an entirely new genre of entertainment. Maybe the Beatles or Frank Sinatra will start to tour. New audiences could experience the blues of BB King; Elvis may be back in the building, and perhaps the music didn’t have to die with Buddy Holly. Or other figures could come to life: Martin Luther King could once again “lead” the civil rights movement with his speeches or Maya Angelou could inspire us with her poems.
The hologram technology isn’t cheap or easy so it won’t be practical for you to create an image of your founder or your grandmother to impart their wisdom – yet. Stay tuned for what marvels are on the horizon.