Performing Holograms – The Past or Future?
Channel: New York Hall Of Science
Date: 2017-02-09

Iconic performers (e.g: Michael Jackson and Tupac) brought back to life with the futuristic technology of holograms, a visual spectacle once only seen in science fiction films, now apparently realized. Yet this “new” technology isn't exactly so new, in fact, it’s first form came in a performance on Christmas day nearly 200 years ago. An old stage trick called Pepper's ghost, with some modern tweaking still has a mind-bending effect on today's audiences. The video will explain what Pepper's ghosts is and why it is definitely not a hologram. 

Coachella- a popular music festival- took the world by storm in 2012, when it brought Tupac, one of the biggest stars in hip hop, back to the stage after over a decade for a spectacular performance. 

Now, that alone would have been captivating if Tupac wasn't already dead for over 15 years. You may be asking, “How is this possible?”  Well, Tupac performed not in physical form, but as a “hologram”. This performance blew up all over social media outlets, shocking the masses who believed we had finally entered the world of science fiction. Before you start shopping for flying cars, you might be interested to know the that first form of this Holographic technology was debuted in Charles Dickens’ play called, The Haunted Man, on Christmas in the year 1862. This innovative new technology is actually an old stage trick called Pepper's Ghost. It’s named after scientist and inventor, John Henry Pepper, who perfected and premiered the technology over 150 years ago. Impossible you say? Well, let me explain how it worked back then through today. Conceptually it's all the same- whether it’s a video or a live performance. The image is projected from the bottom of the stage to mirrors or glass and is then reflected off of them to a large clear glass sheet. This glass is placed at a 45 degree angle from either the front or back of the stage. From this angle, the glass becomes almost invisible and the titular ghost takes shape. So now that you know the technique, it doesn't seem so complicated, right?  In fact, because of the simplicity of this trick, many people have been able to do it by themselves at home. As long as you have a piece of glass and a light source that projects an image, the holograms will appear. So although it is quite a cool effect, it doesn't match our definition of what a hologram is in actuality. For instance, although it bends traditional visual perspectives, in which the image does change slightly based on your viewing angle, Pepper's Ghost exists on a two-dimensional plane. But, before you get upset that we don't have the holograms like we envisioned, just remember this. We are constantly innovating and reinventing new technologies every day, and if you set your mind on it, the next hologram could be named after you!

Black screen.

Hologram Bill (V.O)
And another thing!

Presenter (V.O)
Ah, not this guy again.

Clicking sound. End.

Producer, Writer, Sound & Editor: Brandon Palmieri
Director & Camera: Brittany 
Talent: David Meer 
Special Effects: Khalid Straker