The portal, just off O'Connell Street, is a large screen that shows New Yorkers what's happening on a street in Dublin, and Dubliners what's happening on a street in Manhattan.
Unfortunately when the portal was first activated, it immediately attracted a lot of anti-social behaviour - people swearing, people flashing body parts, and even someone showing a video of 9/11.
So now, instead of the portal being open 24/7 it's open only from 11 am to 9 pm in Dublin and from 6 am to 4 pm (EDT) in New York.
Jenny and I lingered for a while watching New Yorkers do their thing - mainly whooping and holding up slogans - and marvelling at this bit of high-tech.
Hopefully the shorter opening hours will reduce the misbehaviour. But with Dublin being known for its rowdiness, there are no guarantees.
The owners of the portal said they would install software updates "to limit such behaviour appearing on the live stream". Not sure how that would work but it sounds good.
But who needs the portal anyway? Who needs to see a random bunch of New Yorkers for five minutes? Or a random bunch of Dubliners? Isn't it just a rather pointless gimmick?
Well, it's kind of a cute idea. Can you wave to each other through the portal?
ReplyDeleteSx
Ms Scarlet: You could, but you'd have to arrange a time for you both to be in front of the portal.
DeleteI’ve been hearing about it but had not seen what it looked like. I think it sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteBijoux: It's fun for about five minutes!
DeleteAnd how much did that gimmick cost?
ReplyDeleteAccording to the owners, it cost "a few hundred thousand dollars". They weren't specific.
DeleteI guess it's true some people never grow up!
ReplyDeleteSandra: Indeed. Some people are just determined to be obnoxious.
DeleteNick , I really do not understand the concept. It looks like if some people have nothing better to do. Investing money "a few thousand dollars" what a silly thing.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: I do wonder what was the purpose behind it. A tourist attraction? Something to lure more people into the O'Connell Street shops? It does seem like a huge waste of money.
DeleteI frankly don't see the point. And it seems far too expensive. Wouldn't CCTV cheapos have done the job?
ReplyDeleteAnd why? And yeah, you could predict the outcome of the halfwits doing their thing.
Laughing here.
XO
WWW
www: That amount of money would pay for quite a few urgent operations.
DeleteI rather like it. It has the potential to bring people together, if only for brief moments. Or it could inspire and facilitate a whole new art movement.
ReplyDeleteThe money involved really isn't a whole lot, sporting teams spend more on a single player for a season, people spend more on wanky private jets or yachts or deep sea tourism and nobody benefits from those things except the purchaser
Kylie: Well, that's it, people are only together for brief moments. As far as I know, it's owned by a private company, so if they want to fritter away vast sums on something so gimmicky, that's up to them.
DeleteI think it sounds fun. A chance to connect however briefly. (But from a distance and with no conversation so ideal really!)
ReplyDeleteLiz: As you say, silent and from a distance - the perfect way to communicate!
DeleteI did hear about this when that stuff was happening.
ReplyDeleteMary: It only confirms Dublin's reputation as somewhat rowdy.
DeleteI think it sounds magical.
ReplyDeleteColette: Okay. Each to their own!
Delete