We watched the re-broadcast (that we'd recorded) last night and were profoundly disappointed at the massive editing that had taken place. :(

Then how do you account for the other aspects using thousands of people, like the drummers, the Tai Quan Do performers? They also had specific-to-the-second instructions and they carried it out like a CG crowd made flesh. I'd say the Tai Quan Do part was far more complicated than guys in a box jumping up and down.

Hey now! It isn't worth so much angst. It probably didn't even happen in realspace. Look how well they faked the moon landing and what would be possible with modern computer processing power.

Do you really think China would take any chances of somethign being less than perfect? No. The entire thing was digital. And no, that doesn't mean that the NBC commentators were in on it. They just didn't know that they were looking through windows that actually were computer screens adding all the show elements to an otherwise empty stadium.

wow- such strong reactions.

I thought it was beautiful.

I did not think Bush looked bored- he was sitting in the same area as every other dignitary (Putin, Japan's prime minister etc) he was watching through binoculars- and talking to Putin- gosh, maybe about the incredibly bloody war that has broken out in Georgia? I suspect that no matter what he did-someone would find a way to criticize him for it.

I also found the female singer (Brightman?) a tad creepy looking- bad hair.

Loved the moveable type (and I believe it was people)-and the drummers.

The whole show was awe inspiring-

Like I said, I don't discount the possibility of visual or audio cuing system. I just don't get why it matters so much. Dancers have an audio cuing system. It's called music. Does that mean their dance moves are ACTUALLY robotic? Or that it would be impossible for them to recreate the dance without the music?

As for understudies, all you really have to do is train each person to do 2 parts. If an understudy is needed, you should be able to shift enough people around to keep things working.

Dear CD,

...but these performers all did an identical routine (to each other - I love the CG analogy), so all a last minute substitute would need to know is the right wong to attach him/herself to in order to stand at the correct X-Y location on the field. Better still, direct the sub(s) with an earpiece.

The BIG difference with the uber-typewriter is that no two 'tiles' had the same sequence of moves over the length of the performance. Offset concentric intersecting ripples are one example. Can you imagine the rehearsals? "Tile A-52, raise by 6 inches...A-53, lower by 12...too quick..too...slow....Awe Jeez, Chen phoned in sick" et al.

By the time you'd provided feedback to the entire grid, you'd have spent one day on one frame's worth of animation...which would have to be practiced again and again, with each performer in isolation. The alternative is to provide a visual aid inside the box that anyone could interpret in a trice and save yourself the ...ummm... angst I think Alex called it. It would require a Commodore 64 and an L.E.D. bar for each box. LED's are cheap in China 'cos they manufacture them by the $hitload.

With respect to the level of complexity, any dance routine requires remembering the moves, and yes you could do the dance without any audio cue - the point in debate is the timing relative to other performers, which you'd have to admit would be way difficult if you couldn't see them.

Sorry to be so stubborn on this, but I know when I'm being sold an illusion.

Angst - nah...stimulating yep. Thanks for spending the bucks, China !!!

Love and hugs,

The Stoat XXX.

Maybe they had DDR-like screens implanted in their eyes. Up down, left, right, up down, right left.

And I suspect that no matter what he did - someone would find a way to defend him.

Sure, I get that, and I would not be surprised if they were using something for cues. But nor would I feel like I was having the wool pulled over my eyes, that I've somehow been duped into thinking the performance was "more human" than it actually was. Any performance of anything is aided by external cues, that's a given.