Technology & The Greatest Show on Earth

In times of war and hatred I am always comforted that for 31 days every 4 years the world comes together as one for the greatest show on earth! If your team made it or not it doesn’t matter, it is a spectacle to behold 32 countries going head to head to become world champions of the greatest game on earth! I love that every time there is a World Cup technology advances allowing more people to be part of it - beaming to so many more homes, bars and gatherings around the world than ever before.

I read a lovely story the other day - a small Ghanaian Village for the first time ever will get the chance to watch the World Cup through a scheme promoting the use of solar energy. People who are outside the national grid who have never before watched their National Team take part will get to see it for the first time thanks to huge advancements in technology – don’t you think that is just brilliant?

This year’s games will be broadcast to 7 ‘Fan Fest’ locations throughout the world in 3D, only last year the first ever World Cup qualifying games were broadcast in HD and a year later in select areas around the globe people can watch in 3D. Do I want to see Wayne Rooney in 3D giant form in central London? The answer to that is probably not, but I am still impressed with the technology because it adds a sense of occasion to it all.

Also this year for the first time ever the official Fifa World Cup site is enabling deaf people and people with hearing impairments across the globe to follow all 64 matches of world football’s showpiece event by having video reports from all 64 matches which will be broadcast in International Sign, these will be online ‘quickly’ after each game has finished.

Wither you are supporting: France, Spain, Italy, Brazil, USA, New Zealand (like me) England (like my very Scottish dad – who knows what that is about?? I am putting it down to his age!) Technology has provided us with more viewing & information options to get involved than ever before. You can follow Fifa World Cup on Twitter & Facebook, watch games in 3D, HD or on the internet – just don’t tell your boss! You can watch on projection screens at pubs, 60inch plasmas at home or even on your mobile phone. You can also get involved on media micro sites, my favourites are the guardian and BBC sites.

Gathering ground my small 28inch TV when I was 14 in 1994 watching a grainy picture of Roberto Baggio ballooning THAT penalty in the final against Brazil never felt further away than it does right now!

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