Beam me up
The light show last weekend over Vancouver's English Bay.
No matter if you’re asking for extra pickles on your burger or a flash of kingfisher-blue on your factory-made sneakers, getting something made to spec is pretty gratifying. Customization feeds the feeling you’re unique.
So lucky us. Because one of the coolest free attractions at the 2010 Winter Games is also one of the most interactive.
Now ‘til February 28, 20 robotic searchlights will illuminate the sky and waters of English Bay every night from dusk until dawn. The lights have been programmed with designs created online by people around the world.
Video: Light shows and fireworks from the LiveCity site in Yaletown explode in colour over English Bay and downtown Vancouver.
Anyone can go to www.vectorialvancouver.net to tool around on the interactive site. After you get the hang of it, you’re set to choreograph the light beams' movement and angles, timing your own sequence to create movement and patterns.
Your display then gets cued up – and runs for all to see, from the beach at English Bay. Word is that Sunset Beach and Kits Beach are two of the best viewing locations (check out our Google map of free attractions for specific coordinates).
Building the light show is creative, public and personalized. But somehow it doesn’t feel self-indulgent. Check out the website: an awful lot of the designs are for someone else. Contributors are dedicating their designs to friends, family and loved ones, even their cats.
Have you seen the light show? What do you think?
