Bruno Kammerl built the biggest water slide on earth and the test run was more than successful. And yes, I think this could have ended quite horribly. Hard to believe it worked, in fact.
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Update: Sean called it first; it's a fake.
Seahorse saw a clip on Fox, and then Zac E. sent me this story from Sky News which details the very elaborate setup involving a professional PR firm.
Apparently marketing giant MRM Worldwide created the campaign on behalf of Microsoft Germany.
Eh? What's the hook? That everything MicroSoft tells and sells us in bogus? Got it!
In any case MRW got pretty elaborate with this hoax, going so far as to register a website for make-believe engineer "Kammerl," where the viral was hosted from. They created spread sheets showing product planning and development, and even a video showing prototype testing on a giant wheel.
Bottom line and take away message: Trust nothing MicroSoft ever tells you or sells you.
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fake!
ReplyDeleteYou would think fake, but if you to the web site at the end, there's a whole marketing scheme laid out for the idea, with time lines, etc. Check it out.
ReplyDeleteP
I've done the research, and this is NOT a fake. The guy is a science geek of the First Order. The money and science here was not small, even if the madness was very great. See the video here >> http://www.mach-es-machbar.de/video-material-belastungstest.php5 of the slide mechanics (foot speed, friction, etc.) being worked out on a giant wheel tied in to sensors, a computer, etc. Amazing. This guy should work for NASA (if he doesn't already).
ReplyDeleteP.
Well, my problem with it is the pool. I believe that if you merely ran and jumped into that pool you would make it jiggle around. If you watch the pool when he hits it at tremendous speed, it does not even move visibly. There appears to be water splashing, but it does not move. I think he should have knocked it over.
ReplyDeleteI just saw a clip on Comcast from Fox "News" stating it was a fake and, in part, explaining it. I don't believe much on that network, but I think I believe this one. FWIW.
ReplyDeleteSeahorse
YES, it's a fake. Sean was right!!
ReplyDeleteA very involved fake too, done by a professional PR firm hired by MicroSoft. Not sure the point for MicroSoft. Is the new slogan going to be "We fooled you into believing Windows would work, now watch us fool you again!"??
I will post a link to the longer story in the body of the post.
P.