2012 Summer Olympic Games logo. Created by Wolff Olins, it represents the number "2012." The logo cost £400,000 ($635,120 USD). (Via International Olympic Committee)
The BBC is sparing no expense when it comes to this year’s Olympic coverage. The company is making 24 live-stream HD channels available (48 in all if you count non-HD channels) for the games which will give some viewers the option to follow just one event. That means you can watch events such as the blistering Table-Tennis matches or the nail-biting Canoe-Sprint event from beginning to end without any interruption from the rather mundane competitions like Hokey or Gymnastics (joking of course). Live streaming will also be available for mobile devices thanks to the BBC’s sports web-site.
This year may also see another Olympic first with the inclusion of a robotic torch runner if Dr. James Law from Aberystwyth University(UK) has his way. Last year (2011), Dr. Law nominated the Department of Computer Science’s iCub robot to bear the Olympic torch which was being sponsored by Lloyds TSB (Euro-Bank). The robot was acquired by Aberystwyth in the hopes that they could make it learn much like human infants do to overcome the challenges of sensory overload that other ‘bots inevitably encounter with programming.' Apparently iCub was terrified at the prospect of carrying ‘fire’ that the Olympic committee declined the nomination (just kidding, it’s currently unknown as to why the nomination was declined). We may still see a robotic torch carrier. If a robot can complete the "Ironman Triathlon," they can carry a torch too.
Let the games begin! (July 27th, 2012)
UPDATE: The idea was scrapped at the last minute. Robots to seek recognition, another year.
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