not bad for a hairless ape and a couple of tin cans....

[lagilman]

Some days I'm convinced the entire human species was a waste of evolutionary energy. And then something happens to make me think maybe we're not so hopeless after all...

Giant 'telescope' links London, New York

LONDON, England (CNN) -- As the first splinters of sunlight spread their warmth upon the South Bank of the River Thames this morning, it became clear that after more than a century, the vision of Victorian engineer Alexander Stanhope St George had finally been realized.

In all its optical brilliance and brass and wood, there stood the Telectroscope -- a 37 feet long by 11 feet tall dream of a device allowing people on one side of the Atlantic to look into its person-size lens and, in real time, see those on the other side via a recently completed tunnel running under the ocean. (Think 19th century webcam. Or maybe Victorian-age video phone.)


Is it gonna solve any of the world's problems? Nope. But it's neat and cool and was designed to bring us together, not tear us apart. Never underestimate that....

Comments

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is SO COOL. How steampunk!!

When I'm in London on Wednesday I'm *so* going to go check that out ... :)

[lagilman]

Shall I plan to be in Manhattan to wave? *grin*

[bigferret.livejournal.com]

Why would anyone ever want to do that?

Total waste.

[bigferret.livejournal.com]

You know, I realized I am spending too much time on the computer. My first thought is "why didn't they just set up a web cam."

[caryabend.livejournal.com]

It is a webcam.

[caryabend.livejournal.com]

What an awesome idea for a Flash Mob!

[0eris0.livejournal.com]

"A police officer and a street cleaner walked into the frame. Stopped. And waved."

Awww, that's so cool!!! We're SO going over there when I come down for a visit!

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

ZOMG SO COOL!

I will be in London in September. I believe I must stop and wave!

[bigferret.livejournal.com]

That would explain a lot. Like it has been a long week and I need to go home.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

that really is fabulous

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

I have friends who think alike. This is the second, in a row, verbatium quote of that. I wanna go wave!! (whine)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Squee!

[handworn.livejournal.com]

That's pretty interesting, and pleasingly history-nerd, but I was struck mostly by how comprehensively useless it would be simply to view people clear on the other side of the Atlantic. Unless we didn't have any other way of communicating, and had to hold up signs, or something.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

It's only supposed to be there until June.
http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2008/05/22/optical_device_connects_ny_london_in_real_time/