Comments on: Fake but cool video hacking in Times Square http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 14:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054464 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054464 the only thing that got hacked here is your willing suspension of disbelief. for a million technical reasons, it is a fake. but consider this: even a shielded cable would prevent that hack from working, and they definitely put shielded cables on their multimillion dollar advert space. the only thing that got hacked here is your willing suspension of disbelief.

for a million technical reasons, it is a fake. but consider this: even a shielded cable would prevent that hack from working, and they definitely put shielded cables on their multimillion dollar advert space.

]]> By: obeyken http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054223 obeyken Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054223 I smell viral marketing for some yet-to-be-revealed brand. One way to get the billboard owners to play long is to be a big ad agency. I smell viral marketing for some yet-to-be-revealed brand. One way to get the billboard owners to play long is to be a big ad agency.

]]> By: obeyken http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054225 obeyken Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054225 there there. there there.

]]> By: obeyken http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054227 obeyken Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054227 (play *along*) (play *along*)

]]> By: ryank http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1055000 ryank Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055000 Product placement prank? Product placement prank?

]]> By: franka_645 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1055008 franka_645 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055008 It's fake, somebody recognized the part in the hackaday comments... <a href=http://hackaday.com/2011/03/14/commandeering-public-video-screens-real-or-fake/#comment-358329>link</a> pretty cool video, however! It’s fake, somebody recognized the part in the hackaday comments… link

pretty cool video, however!

]]> By: franka_645 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1055010 franka_645 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1055010 http://hackaday.com/2011/03/14/commandeering-public-video-screens-real-or-fake/#comment-358329 http://hackaday.com/2011/03/14/commandeering-public-video-screens-real-or-fake/#comment-358329

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054252 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054252 There are so many technical reasons why this can't work. Heres the first few that pop into my head. The electronics on that device aren't going to do much on there own. How much power can you draw from an iphone headphone socket anyway? The 2 devices are pretty far away from each other so you'd need a few watts that simply aren't available. Those screens are arrays of different sizes and are addressed differently to each other. Some may in fact have wireless links to update the video on them, but I seriously doubt they would carry live unencoded video data streams. More likely TCP/IP over wifi to a PC that drives them. I suspect the bus stop poster does something like this or via a modem/isdn. The bigger screens I havnt a clue. Theres no way they would just appear in the correct screen res to fit and the correct ratio. They'd be all over the place. ill stop before i become any more of a bore. There are so many technical reasons why this can’t work.

Heres the first few that pop into my head.

The electronics on that device aren’t going to do much on there own. How much power can you draw from an iphone headphone socket anyway? The 2 devices are pretty far away from each other so you’d need a few watts that simply aren’t available.

Those screens are arrays of different sizes and are addressed differently to each other. Some may in fact have wireless links to update the video on them, but I seriously doubt they would carry live unencoded video data streams. More likely TCP/IP over wifi to a PC that drives them. I suspect the bus stop poster does something like this or via a modem/isdn. The bigger screens I havnt a clue.

Theres no way they would just appear in the correct screen res to fit and the correct ratio. They’d be all over the place.

ill stop before i become any more of a bore.

]]> By: kpkpkp http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1053997 kpkpkp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1053997 Conductive tether not recommend no matter what the situation. Conductive tether not recommend no matter what the situation.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054254 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054254 Faking TV's is easy.... I'd re-enter my comment, but since I'm having a hard enough time with the insane capcha, that just deleted my text....(4th time!!!!) in brief, it take a few minutes per tv... they just would have started with tv's that were turned off to get better reflections imagine, then compped other footage back in before they cut them. look at an example I did in about 10 minutes when i was muckin around the other day... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHDXyW_z5R4 Faking TV’s is easy….
I’d re-enter my comment, but since I’m having a hard enough time with the insane capcha, that just deleted my text….(4th time!!!!)

in brief, it take a few minutes per tv… they just would have started with tv’s that were turned off to get better reflections imagine, then compped other footage back in before they cut them.

look at an example I did in about 10 minutes when i was muckin around the other day…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHDXyW_z5R4

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054000 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054000 The screens get a wireless video feed. He's simply sending out a stronger signal (due to immediate proximity) from his repeater. The screens get a wireless video feed. He’s simply sending out a stronger signal (due to immediate proximity) from his repeater.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054001 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054001 someone explain why it's got to be fake? someone explain why it’s got to be fake?

]]> By: brillow http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054003 brillow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054003 Lazy fake. The iPhone doesn't transmit video out of its headphone jack. Not to mention there is no way this would work, even in principle. Lazy fake. The iPhone doesn’t transmit video out of its headphone jack. Not to mention there is no way this would work, even in principle.

]]> By: duncan http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1077044 duncan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1077044 pparently this was a promo for the movie Limitless. Too obtuse? http://creativecriminals.com/online/limitless-hacked-video-screens-on-times-square/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219289/ pparently this was a promo for the movie Limitless.

Too obtuse?

http://creativecriminals.com/online/limitless-hacked-video-screens-on-times-square/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219289/

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054265 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054265 TURK 182! TURK 182!

]]> By: sloth http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054268 sloth Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054268 Smells is right. Real-time video hacks... some play off The Laughing Man probably. Smells is right. Real-time video hacks… some play off The Laughing Man probably.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054013 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054013 Hey! No bursting my bubble. It was on the internetz, so it's true. Some people just have no faith. You make the unicorns cry :( Hey! No bursting my bubble. It was on the internetz, so it’s true. Some people just have no faith. You make the unicorns cry :(

]]> By: fataltourist http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054020 fataltourist Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054020 Lazy? The motion tracking and masking is pretty good. Lazy? The motion tracking and masking is pretty good.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054535 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054535 So, this is a good FX job, but anyone with After Effects/Mocha experience can pull it off, including the realistic lighting and translucency effects. But aside from the exposed-circuit-board "tech" and snazzy flickering screens being completely preposterous (although easy to sell to a population hooked on "CSI science"), the real reason this is obviously fake is because the "filmmakers" took great pains to shake the camera just enough, and they frequently put stuff in front of each of the "hijacked" screens, as if they were trying really hard to convince us that it was a "natural" shot. It's the "District 9" effect. The worse the cinematography is, the less likely we are to believe that that anyone put any time into it. So, this is a good FX job, but anyone with After Effects/Mocha experience can pull it off, including the realistic lighting and translucency effects.

But aside from the exposed-circuit-board “tech” and snazzy flickering screens being completely preposterous (although easy to sell to a population hooked on “CSI science”), the real reason this is obviously fake is because the “filmmakers” took great pains to shake the camera just enough, and they frequently put stuff in front of each of the “hijacked” screens, as if they were trying really hard to convince us that it was a “natural” shot.

It’s the “District 9″ effect. The worse the cinematography is, the less likely we are to believe that that anyone put any time into it.

]]> By: caipirina http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054028 caipirina Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054028 cute idea .. even if fake ... but .. what if it was NOT ?? :D cute idea .. even if fake … but .. what if it was NOT ?? :D

]]> By: lolbrandon http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054032 lolbrandon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054032 I like how the screens do that half-video-flicker thing when the sensor gets close and then moves away. It really helps sell the effect. I also like that we live in a world where special effects technology produced on a home PC looks so good that if you didn't know this was technologically impossible (the headphone jack?) you couldn't be sure if it was fake or not. I don't think this was a lazy fake, either. I think it was meant to be an obvious joke. The headphone jack just makes it funnier. I like how the screens do that half-video-flicker thing when the sensor gets close and then moves away. It really helps sell the effect.

I also like that we live in a world where special effects technology produced on a home PC looks so good that if you didn’t know this was technologically impossible (the headphone jack?) you couldn’t be sure if it was fake or not.

I don’t think this was a lazy fake, either. I think it was meant to be an obvious joke. The headphone jack just makes it funnier.

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054035 bcsizemo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054035 I mean in theory you can hijack anything receiving a wireless signal (such as an OTA TV set). However, I'm guessing all these screens are hardwired, so inductive anything isn't going to work. Yawn. I mean in theory you can hijack anything receiving a wireless signal (such as an OTA TV set). However, I’m guessing all these screens are hardwired, so inductive anything isn’t going to work.

Yawn.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054293 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054293 It doesn't but an app could make it encode the video into bits sent through the audio jack - infact its quite an elegant solution. This does not make the video real but it discredits the silver bullet you think you found :p It doesn’t but an app could make it encode the video into bits sent through the audio jack – infact its quite an elegant solution. This does not make the video real but it discredits the silver bullet you think you found :p

]]> By: Takashi Omoto http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054562 Takashi Omoto Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054562 I've never been to Times Square, but in the final exhibition on the big screen, the bottom text still says "For Audio Dial xxx-xxxxx (charges may apply)". I was under the impression that it was also part of the video signal. I’ve never been to Times Square, but in the final exhibition on the big screen, the bottom text still says “For Audio Dial xxx-xxxxx (charges may apply)”. I was under the impression that it was also part of the video signal.

]]> By: jmadison http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054057 jmadison Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054057 This was neat, who cares if it was faked. It's the role of science fiction to inspire future technological jumps. Maybe this isn't possible, but someday... (looks off into the sunset longingly) .....it will be. This was neat, who cares if it was faked. It’s the role of science fiction to inspire future technological jumps. Maybe this isn’t possible, but someday… (looks off into the sunset longingly) …..it will be.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054059 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054059 Before declaring this a fake might be interested in reading this article before you make up your mind. http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/01/14/1634225/HiJacking-the-iPhones-Headset-Port Before declaring this a fake might be interested in reading this article before you make up your mind.

http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/01/14/1634225/HiJacking-the-iPhones-Headset-Port

]]> By: invictus http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054571 invictus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054571 Not to make you feel even worse, but I do not think "proceeds" means what you think it means. Not to make you feel even worse, but I do not think “proceeds” means what you think it means.

]]> By: invictus http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054574 invictus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054574 That one bugged me too, but if anything, it's an argument against a simple CG job. Wouldn't the CG artist have edited out such an obvious tell? That one bugged me too, but if anything, it’s an argument against a simple CG job. Wouldn’t the CG artist have edited out such an obvious tell?

]]> By: Tango Charlie http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054070 Tango Charlie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054070 Agree with all of the above, also want to point out well they've done the compositing (or whatever) with the balloon - they get the translucency and highlights correct. Probably easiest to do with a CG balloon, but it could also just be really good manipulation. Agree with all of the above, also want to point out well they’ve done the compositing (or whatever) with the balloon – they get the translucency and highlights correct. Probably easiest to do with a CG balloon, but it could also just be really good manipulation.

]]> By: Tango Charlie http://boingboing.net/2011/03/14/fake-but-cool-video.html#comment-1054073 Tango Charlie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1054073 Oop, should be, ...*how* well... Oop, should be, …*how* well…

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