Incredibly, Orange Bowl administrators have nixed a halftime appearance by the Stanford University band at tonight's football game between the smarty-pants California school and the Virginia Tech Hokies. And, in a fit of equal treatment, the Orange Bowl also removed the Hokie band removed from the halftime show.One splendid response to the uptight Orange Bowl suits could be a harbinger of the future. Stanford electrical engineers, among the world leaders in the field and deeply associated with Silicon Valley firms, could arrange for a "virtual halftime" show by the band. Virginia Tech, as well, features a strong electrical engineering student, alumni, and corporate base. It's tempting to think Va Tech could join Stanford in giving an electronic middle finger to Orange Bowl management, while launching a new and potentially groundbreaking event.
A "virtual halftime" show is not such a wacky idea. Stadiums such as the new Dallas Cowboys' pleasure palace have massive 3-D capable screens over the football field. Clearly, the Cowboy ownership had something more than football in mind with the installation of the screens. A halftime show could now be shown strictly on a screen, without humans on the field of play at all. Patrons would not necessarily need to look at the 3-D screen; they could use their phones or other handheld devices. Stanford or its savvy alums could even patent the process and make even more money for the already financially strong university. Or the U could combine with a corporate heavyweight, such as Disney-Pixar, to create this sort of venture. The Orange Bowl? They'll just have to go to the end of the line.
No comments:
Post a Comment