Three of mans favourite things; Football, Cars and Technology will collide in Hyde Park this week as the Champion league final between Manchester United and Barcelona draws closer.
We went down to Ford’s top secret technology and innovation centre, just outside London, near Laindon train station, in Essex – to see what they have come up with.
The clever chaps at Ford were tasked with coming up with something innovative that combines their 19-year sponsorship of the Champions League, their all-new Ford Focus and Social Media.
So what did they come up with? Well, called Focus Cam we got a sneak peak of what that have got planned for the Champion Parks in Hyde Park.
We were some of the first people in the country to test the technology ready for the Hyde Park shoots that would be open to tens of thousands of football (and gadget) fans this week.
Running all week long at the Champions Park in Hyde Park, London – Ford have come up with a clever supporter experience for members of the public who want their own piece of digital social memorabilia.
And they have come up trumps, when you arrive at the Champions Park you will see a Ford stand in the ubiquitous Ford blue, this will be the base of Focus Cam, as well a couple of Ford Focus’ setup as Wi-Fi hot spots.
Focus Cam has been devised after they took inspiration from the new Focus’ camera technology, which can identify parking spaces as the car parks itself and can also read traffic signals and then displays them on the dash – so you always know what the speed limit is.
They have created a 180 degree arc of digital cameras – much like the motion capture systems that are used in films and computer games, football fans and general members of the public will be given a choice of props as you become part of your very own Matrix-style bullet-time TV advert.
We grabbed our props and were told to stand in the middle of the rig, flanked by two Focus’ as we jumped around like excited school kids.
The cameras take pictures one after each other to produce and amazing photo that actually moves around the arc as if you were in your own Matrix-style TV advert.
Less than a minute later some Mac monkeys at the back of the room had brought the 40 pictures together to make a moving still image that moves across the arc as you are in the middle of a crazy jump or pose.
It almost immediatley reminded us of the comedy pictures you get a fun fairs where pictures are taken during the ride, but this takes it to the next level as you get it for free and the helpful Ford staff will be on hand to show it you almost immediately on a iPad’s and then you can choose whether you want to be posted to your Facebook, Twitter or sent as an email.
The videos will be on YouTube and you will be able to find yours by the time and date that it was taken. Don't panic, they'll give you a card so you know when to search for.
Dates and Opening Times
Saturday 21st May 12.00-22.30
Sunday 22nd May 12.00-22.30
Monday 23rd May 12.00-20.30
Tuesday 24th May 12.00-20.30
Wednesday 25th May 12.00-20.30
Thursday 26th May 12.00-22.30
Friday 27th May 12.00-22.30
Saturday 28th May 09.00-17.00