For World Book Day, the Swiss brand Ex Libris brought a somewhat retrofuturistic technology up to date, the hologram. The latter had experienced a resurgence of interest with its use by a certain candidate during a French presidential campaign, and this time finds itself put at the service of books and reading.
This system was part of a rich program, which notably included a reading marathon, spread over 24 hours. This “Lesathon” brought together around thirty authors and diverse personalities, brought together by their love of reading and the desire to declaim texts for several hours.
Alongside a broadcast on the YouTube platform, this major joint reading was displayed on several holographic devices, rented by the bookstore chain from the Swiss company Jamazespecialist in “ immersive 3D experiences“.
The devices were installed in 5 different locations, spread across three Swiss cities: the University of Applied Sciences and the Blue Cinema in Chur, the University of Medicine and the Blue Cinema in Zurich, and finally the Glatt shopping center in Wallisellen.
At a time when bookstores are questioning their carbon footprint, or even their participation in a freewheeling book industry, plagued by overproduction, the use of such technological devices may be surprising.
The bookstore chain Ex Librisquestioned on this point by email, tells us that the electrical consumption of the devices is around 300 to 400 watts, a priori per hour, according to the projected information. Which corresponds to the power of a high-performance desktop computer used for video games.
READ – Energy, waste, transport… How to green your bookstore?
It is possible to rewatch certain readings below, in a less immersive way however…
Photograph: Hologram of Serafina Haldimann, who was reading volume 1 ofPercy Jacksonby Rick Riordan
