Leicester shoppers are tickled by giant hand on big screen!
Shoppers stared with furrowed brows, children danced in glee and smiles and laughter spread like wildfire as Leicester was tickled pink at the weekend.
Humberstone Gate came to a near standstill on Saturday afternoon when the city's 30m high television unleashed a giant, tickling hand on unsuspecting passers-by.
Bemused shoppers stood rooted gazing up at an image of themselves on the screen as the fingers moved backwards and forwards.
Reactions quickly turned to delight as hundreds waved and jumped up and down to attract the motion sensitive hand.
The entertainment was brought to the city by the BBC to tie in with the start of the Leicester Comedy Festival.
Nathan Livings, 34, from Aylestone, bounced three-year-old William up and down on his shoulders as father and son watched in amazement.
He said: "I think anything that makes the town centre more interesting is good.
"It is great to see so many people smiling on a cold, grey February day."
Jean Meaney, 76, from Glenfield, admitted the whole thing had her scratching her head, but even without understanding what it was all about she enjoyed herself. "I was trying to work out what it was," she admitted.
"I was looking to see if it was Leicester on the screen when I saw myself. Everybody was having a good laugh. It cheered me up."
Meghna Desai, 19, from Oadby, said: "It is so funny and cool. It is something interesting and better than having news on all the time."
Margaret Wilson, 72, from New Parks, said: "It makes a change to be amused when you come into town. I think it is a great idea. We need something to brighten us up."
Hand from Above was designed by London-based artist and designer Chris O'Shea.
Using a motion sensitive camera positioned on the front of the screen, clever computer software moves the hand around the screen tickling, squashing, flicking and even picking people up.
It has previously been shown in Liverpool and Cardiff and is one of a number of projects the BBC has lined up for Leicester.
Screen manager Louise Angell said: "If we can make people smile for a couple of minutes when they come into the city centre then I think it is 'job done'.
"The screens are so much more than a big TV. We want people to know that it can do more and you can interact with it and the Comedy Festival seemed like the appropriate time to bring it to Leicester.
"We want to do more and more of this in the future and we have got some other interactive stuff in the pipeline.
"This may not be for everybody, but I hope in future people will find something for them."
The £500,000 screen was donated to the city by the London organising committee of the Olympic Games and was put up in April 2009.
8 Comments
by Matt, Leicester
Monday, February 08 2010, 1:36PM
“If enough people get some benefit from the screen then it will be value for money, simple as that. When events like the Olympics, world up for example are on I'm sure the shops around that area will feel an enormous benefit and perhaps it will bring a bit of togetherness to the city on some of the occasions I mentioned above.
Of course it could be a disaster. especially when England crash out and the crowd turns nasty.
Who knows? Worth the experiment though, you've got to try things sometimes to see how the pan out.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:51PM
“One wonders to whom Kenny is referring to?
It is not anger Kenny. I just think that are much better things that the City Council could spend on instead of paying the £40k annual running costs with tax-payers money.”
by Kenny, LFE
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:38PM
“Happy to pay £40k of my taxpayers money thanks. It will also be usefull for the world cup and makes miserable old gits with stupid names angry!”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:20PM
“Geoff,
No I didn't. Yes I am glad that people really enjoyed it. The problem I have with it is a total waste of public monies both from the London Organising Committee and the £40k annual running costs. I am sure that there are much better things to do with the annual £40k of tax-payers money that the City Council could do with the money?”
by Geoff, Leicester
Monday, February 08 2010, 11:58AM
“Did any of you moaners actually go down and see the animation on Saturday? It was amazing and loads of people really enjoyed it! That's a good thing; isn't it?”
by OMD, leics
Monday, February 08 2010, 10:43AM
“Plenty of cities had giant TV screens before Leicester.Birmingham did it years ago. Presumably its created loads of jobs for pickpockets. But not much else.”
by Alex, Leicester
Monday, February 08 2010, 10:07AM
“At least we got a TV out of the olympics. Most cities will get nothing apart from London who is the only real city to benefit from the olympics, despite what the organisers say.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Monday, February 08 2010, 10:00AM
“After a quick bit of research - the donation from the London Organising Committee (using public monies) and maintained at a cost of £40k per year (using public monies).
Value for money then!!!”