Walking Out of Thin Air
May 2008
Did You Know
Have you ever been to an event where the speaker makes a grand entrance by bursting through a big paper banner, like they do at football games?
Sure, the effect will certainly wake up an audience and draw some applause, but isn’t it a little old-fashioned?Instead, imagine your CEO magically appearing out of thin air, walking onstage right through a perfect image of the company logo.
This sleek scenario is made possible with a new technology by FogScreen, Inc., which uses ultrafine fog to create an intangible projection screen. The machine that produces the fog is suspended from above, and the fog rapidly flows in a perfect thin sheet down to the floor.
Anything that would appear on a traditional screen can be projected on the fog screen, such as digital video, lasers and slideshows. As there are no projection components on the ground or on either side, participants can walk right through the screen, for a truly memorable entrance.
Also, unlike other fog-producing machines, the fog particles used in the FogScreen version are so small that they do not create a dampening effect—participants feel only dry, cool air. And, because the flow rate is high, disruption of the fog screen is barely noticed. So, not only can you use one onstage for an occasional entrance and exit, but you can also set it up as a “doorway” to an event space, allowing each attendee to feel like a ghost (or a celebrity) as they walk through whatever image you decide to use.
Project a waterfall, for example, and add sound to make it even more lifelike. Or a chart displaying the year-end sales results that you’ve gathered to celebrate. Or the open mouth of a massive lion’s head.
Aside from offering the fun of walking through walls, the FogScreen is still a fully functioning projection screen, and can wow your attendees when used as an image backdrop or presentation tool. Currently it is available for sale and rental in two different models. The first is 79 inches wide and 59 inches high. The second is 39 inches wide, but is designed to be linked seamlessly with others, so you could literally create a fog screen as wide as an entire room or stage. fogscreen.com
