Tech
How Tokyo’s drone show spectacular took flight
How did almost two thousand drones light up the sky to create a spectacular better than fireworks? the idea for a done show began down under
The drone show was the true highlight of the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony
1,824 drones formed the shape of the world 175m in the air.
The shapes kept rotating and shifting against each other, and some turned bright blue
Millions of us, across the world were transfixed as the drones rotated just like Planet Earth.
It was breathtaking and was quite literally the turning point that made most of us believe in the Olympics again.
A photo shows a sphere made of drones during the Opening Ceremony of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at National Stadium in Tokyo on July 23, 2021. The summer Olympic games will run until Aug. 8th. ( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images ) epaselect epa09359933 Picture taken from the Shibuya Sky observation deck shows drones forming a globe above the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, 23 July 2021. EPA/CHRISTOPHER JUE Drones in formation fly over the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) epa09359956 A photographer takes pictures of drones forming a globe in the sky over the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, 23 July 2021. EPA/PETER KLAUNZER
Did you know Australia was behind the whole light show?
Back in 2019 the country was burning through a devastating black summer, so instead of having sparking flames in the air AKA fireworks, drone light shows became the answer.
They can be fully customised to create anything imaginable, even to John Lennon’s song ‘imagine’ like we saw in Tokyo.
To perform a drone show, multiple quadcopters coordinate to fly in programmed, preset patterns, tracing out shapes in the sky that are often choreographed to music.
After a few test runs, the lightweight drones in Tokyo were all controlled by a team of just 15 people.
In a perfect performance – trained pilots, animators and programmers manoeuvred the high-tech equipment.
With the man behind the idea describing the drone spectacular as “an amazing feat of technology.”
“A lot of the story really came from the creative talents here in Japan, and then we collaborated on best ways to integrate the drones into the overall story,” Intel Olympic and Paralympic general manager Rick Echevarria said.
Will fireworks be replaced in the next few years as this emerging technology gains a sky hold?
Tech
OpenAI limits deepfakes after Bryan Cranston’s concerns
OpenAI protects against deepfakes on Sora 2 after Bryan Cranston and SAG-AFTRA raise concerns over unauthorized AI-generated content
OpenAI protects against deepfakes on Sora 2 after Bryan Cranston and SAG-AFTRA raise concerns over unauthorised AI-generated content
– OpenAI partners with Bryan Cranston and unions to combat deepfakes on its Sora app.
– The app now includes options for people to control their likenesses and voices.
The partnership aims to enhance protections against unauthorized AI content. The Creative Artists Agency and United Talent Agency had previously criticized OpenAI, citing risks to their clients’ intellectual property.
Last week, OpenAI blocked disrespectful videos of Martin Luther King Jr. at the request of his estate, following similar pressures. Zelda Williams also requested the public refrain from sending her AI-generated clips of her late father, Robin Williams.
Policy Changes
Following tensions post-launch, CEO Sam Altman revised Sora’s policy to give rights holders greater control of their likenesses.
The app now allows individuals to opt-out, reflecting OpenAI’s commitment to respond quickly to concerns from performers.
OpenAI backs the NO FAKES Act, supporting legislation that aims to protect individuals from unauthorized AI-generated representations.
OpenAI is focused on ensuring performers’ rights are respected regarding the misuse of their voices and likenesses. Altman reiterated the company’s dedication to these protections.
Tech
Major apps down as AWS experiences global outage
AWS outage disrupts Fortnite, Snapchat and multiple services globally
AWS outage disrupts Fortnite, Snapchat and multiple services globally
– AWS outage on Monday disrupted major apps like Fortnite, Snapchat, and affected several global companies.
– UK companies including Lloyds Bank and Vodafone reported issues due to the AWS outage.
Amazon’s AWS experienced a significant outage on Monday, impacting major apps including Fortnite and Snapchat. The disruption affected connectivity for numerous companies globally.AWS reported increased error rates and latencies across multiple services and is attempting to recover quickly.
The outage marks the first significant internet disruption since a previous incident last year that impacted essential technology systems globally. AWS offers on-demand computing and storage services and is vital for many websites and platforms.
Multiple companies reported disruptions, including AI startup Perplexity, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, and trading app Robinhood. Perplexity’s CEO confirmed on X that the outages were linked to AWS issues.
Amazon’s shopping site, Prime Video, and Alexa services also faced difficulties, according to Downdetector. Other affected platforms included popular gaming applications like Clash Royale and financial services such as Venmo and Chime.
Uber competitor Lyft’s app was reported down for numerous users in the U.S. Messaging platform Signal also acknowledged connection problems stemming from the AWS outage.
British Companies
In the UK, Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, and telecom services provider Vodafone were notably affected. The HMRC’s website also encountered issues during this outage.
Elon Musk stated that his platform, X, remained operational despite the widespread disruptions.
-
News4 days ago
Bitcoin tops $110K as South Korea reforms crypto rules
-
News3 days ago
Oil prices drop amid OPEC+ output increase plans
-
Shows4 days ago
Improvement districts transforming cities: lessons from London
-
News6 hours ago
Markets cautious as rate cut hopes fade
-
News6 hours ago
US–China trade talks are a handshake, not a deal
-
Ticker Views4 days ago
Were you on Facebook 10 years ago? You may be able to claim part of this $50 million payout
-
News4 days ago
Russia test-launches nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile
-
News2 days ago
Meta and Amazon signal ‘AI efficiency era’
