Inside the Technology Powering the Olympic Games

When an athlete crosses the finish line, how do final lap times get published in less than one second? What goes on behind the scenes to keep the Games running smoothly? This is your look at 4,000-member team who doesn't compete in any sporting events. With the world's largest sporting event kicking off in Beijing, billions of people around the world will flock to China or their TV sets and the Internet to get updates on their country's Olympic medal count. But how often do you think about the technology needed to get stats out to a global audience in the same amount of time it takes you to blink? What about the IT infrastructure required to ensure the Games run without glitches? And who updates the Olympic website? Enter Atos Origin, an international IT services company that is the tech lifeline of the Olympic Games. Powered by a 4,000-strong IT team, Atos has been setting up for the last four years in anticipation of this year's Games in Beijing. They are responsible for ensuring competition results are delivered worldwide in less than 0.3 seconds, and they run the invisible system that powers the global demand for statistics measured in fractions of a second. In this episode of Digital Journal TV, we take you behind the scenes of this global sporting powerhouse to give you a glimpse of the tech backbone of the Games. Find out how many computers are needed to run the media and visitor centers in the country; how much testing is needed to make sure this meeting of the world goes off without a hitch; and details about the international company that you won't see competing on the track. More info: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/258271

Author: digitaljournal
Keywords: digitaljournal olympic games olympics beijing china atos origin technology it infrastructure sporting sports
Added: August 7, 2008

Spokesmen VHS Teaser

Just a taste of the upcoming Live VHS of Spokesmen due out this October. Though there will be no over dubbes, just the straight, live juice for the final product. Shot on 4 VHS cameras at The Lost Cross in April of 2008. Thanks to the Spokesmen for being a kickass band. To Brett, Taylor and Ryan for being good friends. And to their willingness to let me record their likeness of kickassery and goodness on tape. Also big thanks to Kurt Buchmier from KUJOBU Digital Media Works ® for use of editing facilities and coffee. Still a lot to do, a few more scenes to shoot, but the electric monster children on six wheels will soon adorn the space between Dumbo and The Monster Squad in your beloved VHS collection very, very soon. Song: "Clear Your Head" by Spokesmen off of "Self-titled EP", Let's Pretend Records 2008. Clips: Rambo and the Forces of Freedom - "Raid on Las Vegas" and "Trouble in Tibet". Family Home Entertainment 1986. Directed and edited by Sean Loftus ® Blowback Productions, 2008.

Author: palsaradise
Keywords: Spokesmen VHS
Added: August 7, 2008