Is this honestly not trivial in 2017??? Given this didn't have to be perfect, there are 3-5+ ways to do this.
That did not answer the question, so I am going to assume the answer is not trivial.
Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
31–40 of 48 posts
Re: Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
#32Was wondering the same thing. Either each volunteer was in a predetermined location with specific uuid'd torches or there some newfangled rfid/bluetooth location tracking to within one foot or so that I want to know about. My money's on the later, can't trust 100s of people to be where you told them to be during a live performance who aren't professionals.
Re: Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
#33Was wondering the same thing. Either each volunteer was in a predetermined location with specific uuid'd torches or there some newfangled rfid/bluetooth location tracking to within one foot or so that I want to know about. My money's on the later, can't trust 100s of people to be where you told them to be during a live performance who aren't professionals.
Why do you say that they weren't professional dancers?
Re: Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
#34I'd be tempted to think they decided to solve the logistics challenge instead of the technical one. So instead of trying to build a generic piece of hardware that detects its own position and lights up accordingly, each torch was unique (or configured via software to be unique, even if at "runtime") and configured specifically for its exact position on the field. If each torch is designed for it's own show, then the…
so are you saying all those people are not some random spectators of the show but super bowl crew? Or random spectators who guarantee that they wont move from their predefined position?
Not super hard to believe that the NFL was able to recruit Houston natives to do this for free in exchange for a close up concert with Lady Gaga and being on national TV.
Re: Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
#35I'm curious how the one commercial knew the score was 21-3 ... Did they record a bunch of versions which covered most possible scores? Did Fox dub in the score right after halftime?
Just enjoying the idea that they recorded enough possible score combinations to get 21-3 falcons leading correct.
That definitely wouldn't be at the top of the permutation list. :)
Re: Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
#36I'd be tempted to think they decided to solve the logistics challenge instead of the technical one. So instead of trying to build a generic piece of hardware that detects its own position and lights up accordingly, each torch was unique (or configured via software to be unique, even if at "runtime") and configured specifically for its exact position on the field. If each torch is designed for it's own show, then the…
I believe this is the correct answer. The people in the "crowd" holding the torches were also dancing in synchronization with parts of the music, so they obviously practiced beforehand and I'm tempted to assume they each had an assigned spot to stand in at certain times. Given that they were in predetermined positions, the LED synchronization would be trivial.
Re: Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
#37PixMob ( https://pixmob.com/en/ ) has been used in past superbowls to create similar effects, which aparently uses IR.
Yes, PixMob also produced synched LED bracelets for Taylor Swift's most recent tour. Here's a video of that in action [1] and a video showing various events they've been at [2]. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2hNcJeeDsM [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYnaMaKj27M
Those weren't localized to seat location, like that of the super bowl show.
Re: Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
#38I'd be tempted to think they decided to solve the logistics challenge instead of the technical one. So instead of trying to build a generic piece of hardware that detects its own position and lights up accordingly, each torch was unique (or configured via software to be unique, even if at "runtime") and configured specifically for its exact position on the field. If each torch is designed for it's own show, then the…
The dance was rehearsed ahead of time and the torches get lit via infrared sensors. (I magically discovered the infrared when I was pressing my TV remote and it just lit up).
Re: Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
#39This is done by shining bright Infra Red lights high in the stadium down onto the crowd. We cannot see Infra Red light ourselves, but the lights/torches the crowd holds can detect the infra red light and respond when they see it by switching on and showing visible light we can see. Thus all the lights the crowd have can be commanded to light up at the same time, or turn off at the same time. In advanced situations the infra red lights can trigger mass synced colour changes in the lights the crowd holds, exactly the same way an infra red remote control commands a TV to do different things. Cheap and effective tech.
Re: Ask HN: How were the super bowl led torches synced?
#40Wifi? I've worked on something similar: