July 4, 2009
So you'd like to put on a July 4th fireworks show for your crew but lack the...
- money
- permits
- pyrotechnic expertise
- all of the above
No problem. As Oh Gizmo reports:
Sega’s got a new projector coming out... it will project a pre-programmed fireworks show on the ceiling or walls of your home, and that you’ll be able to design your own show from a library of 55 different virtual pyrotechnic displays. It will be powered by 3xAAA batteries so the projector is most definitely portable, and it will retail for about $160.
Unfortunately, the device won't launch until August, so this idea will have to wait for your Independence Day, 2010 bash.
Via: Gizmodo
Comments
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
i'd rather go outside
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
The concept is interesting, but the execution looks lame. Looks like a bunch of slides are lit a different times instead of procedurally generating them in real-time. Would also benefit from a way to sense the room/ceiling shape and adjust the projection accordingly. Don't forget the stereoscopic glasses with polarized lenses.
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
Seems like a lot of money to spend on something that is not only kind of frivolous, but also not very versatile, especially in these economic times. Does it have any other uses? I think I'll buy food instead, thanks.
"De minimus non curat lex"
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
I dunno. The thing that I really enjoy about the fireworks is hearing the blasts, and feeling the concussive blasts hit me.
Also an AC option would also be nice. AAA batteries won't last long. Since it's a unit that you don't have to HOLD to operate, i'd rather it be some D cell batteries, or have the AC adapter.
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
I'm guessing that, since it's intended for indoor use primarily, that it would have an AC adaptor, as well as surround sound outputs.
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Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
You know what you could do instead? Purchase a pipe as wide as a firework bulb, stick the pipe into the ground or a small, weighted platform, and then launch fireworks from the pipe. Costs less, twice as fun.
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
And about a billion times more deadly AND a trillion times more illegal.
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Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
In Japan, they don't have much room for open spaces to have public displays in, so I can certainly see the advantage of something like this.
Personally, I have a pet hatred of Fireworks, I live in the UK, which means between about August and the end of November, a night doesn't go past without some idiot setting them off, particularly those bloody 'whistling' ones, what on Earth is the point of those?
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
What do they celebrate in the UK from August thru November?
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Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
It's usually a collection of Weddings, Birthdays and fact that most shops used to start stocking fireworks for Guy-Fawkes (In November) from around August.
Thanks to some new laws, this is dying down, at least.
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
I do think the heart has gone out of it.. it used to be local communities with bonfires and fireworks in someones back garden, then the councils started having bigger local displays and the local ones all but died out (not completely, but they're getting rare).
Heck, you don't even see kids with sparklers any more... I used to *love* those things.. and they've banned you from letting off your own fireworks at the 'official' ones because it shows up how utterly lame the official display is (£25 per person for about 3 rockets a catherine wheel and a display that says 'good night').
The banned penny for the guy because it was 'begging' (then imported 'trick or treat' from the US which is equally begging, but carries a threat of violence with it.. strange world), they banned handmade bonfires because of smoke pollution laws. Don't know why they don't just go the whole hog and ban the whole night, since the powers that be seem to hate it s much.
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
Problem was, incidents were on the rise of people being irresponsible with the Fireworks and harming other people and family pets with them, sometimes accidentally, sometimes deliberately.
The bannings were our own fault really, we were given permission to, one night a year, set off a load of explosive devices for our own pleasure, but people started abusing that, the period of year that included fireworks got larger and larger, the back-garden displays went on later and later into the night, into the point where it was actually becoming silly enough that laws were needed.
It's a pity, I used to enjoy Fireworks, Health and Safety be damned, but it ended up getting to the point where when I heard the first firework of the year (around July time) I'd just facepalm.
Re: Virtual Fireworks Machine From Sega
August is the start of fireworks "season" in Japan, so Sega is hitting their primary customers perfectly!
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