12/22/24
February 14, 2002
NBC's use of SimulCam technology is a reason to catch one of the remaining skiing or figure skating events. It superimposes a ghosted replay of one athlete over a replay of another, providing an amazing comparative look at the event. (Via RC3)
I love the SimulCam footage. They had one last night that showed Bode Miller passing another top skier in the second slalom of the Alpine Combined. It showed very clearly just how good Miller's run was.
posted by neuroshred at 01:56 PM on February 14, 2002
The one I like, and they used it much more in the Sydney water events, is where they project the flag of the country into their lanes (or on top of the water) in the races so you can tell who's who. Of course, when you start selling all sort of sponsorships and whatnot like Fox does with NFL Europe's first down line - it can get out of hand.
posted by owillis at 02:31 PM on February 14, 2002
The speed skating events have displayed some of those phony flags on the ice surface, which I assume is the same technology as the first down line in football. It's a neat trick -- you can see scuff marks over the flags.
posted by rcade at 02:40 PM on February 14, 2002
During the hockey coverage they've been using a something similar to EyeVision which was used during the Super Bowl a year ago. In football it didn't seem to offer a lot and I haven't seen it used since, but with a closer camera angle available in a hockey arena, it's been very effective. It allows the commentators to explain plays by stopping time, focusing on different views and/or zooming in on certain players and has really added to their broadcast.
posted by 86 at 03:21 PM on February 14, 2002
They used that system for hockey in the Stanley Cup finals last year. I think they installed it at the Meadowlands for the games in NJ (or was it for the games in Denver?)
posted by andrewraff at 04:42 PM on February 14, 2002
I agree...I really like it. It's my favorite innovation TV-wise in these games (the "line to beat" in ski jumping, simialr to the first down line we're now used to on footbal games, is good also.). It's been really telling in the skiing when you see a skier come too far off a jump and have to turn hard, and the smoother skier surges ahead.