Use of Hologram Effects or Virtual Presence in Philippine TV News Programs 24 Oras and TV Patrol World

In the past few days, due to the advancement of technology in this year's automated National Elections in the Philippines, it seems that technology crawled its way onto some of the local TV news programs. ABS-CBN channel 2 and GMA channel 7 utilize what they call hologram effect.

What happens is that a person on another location is shown live by displaying a hologram-like image onto the screen of a news broadcast. So it would seem that the newscaster in the studio and the person on the other location is talking to each other live even though the latter is just a projected image. Well, at least this is what the viewers will see.

The misleading part here is that at first, channel 7 said it was a hologram. First of all, holograms should be a real projection and not just superimposed to look like it's actually projected in the studio. So, if I'm the newscaster and if it's a hologram, I should see that projected hologram with my own eyes. Well, I knew immediately that it was just an effect and the newscaster do not actually see any projected image right before their eyes. They're practically talking to thin air. Channel 2, on the other hand, was able to avert this confusion better.

To clear up this mess and misconception of the people, GMA 7 explained how it works. They used Chroma Key technology. I remembered something that I watched years ago when I was still a student. A Sineskwela (a science information program for kids and students) episode explained how chroma key works. An object is placed before a background that has one color (usually green or blue). This technology can superimpose an object over a background which replaces the color of the wall. To better explain, here's an example.

I'm here in the Philippines. Using Chroma Key technology, I can make an illusion that I'm in Hong Kong. I'll just stand in front of a completely green wall and the chroma key will set the green background to let's say a picture of the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (which I really miss). It will then superimpose my image atop the background making it look like I'm in Ocean Terminal. I can move around and do different actions.

The same concept is used for the hologram effects of the Philippine News programs. They superimpose the image of the person in the remote location (who stands in front of a wallpaper) on top of the live broadcast making it look like he/she is in front of the newscaster.

But of course, not a lot of people understand this technology as this concept of broadcasting is new and only a certain percentage of the people are even familiar with Chroma Key technology. It's good that they explained how it works to clear up speculations and confusion about this technology. A while ago, I watched 24 Oras (GMA Channel 7) and they already said that it's a hologram effect. Hopefully, this technology will be understood and accepted by many. It's quite interesting anyway. But for me, I prefer to watch those reporters or guests in front of a live camera instead of projecting their image. A split-screen with the newscaster would suffice.