Safety cell
The technology laboratory of LOCOG in Canary
Wharf for the Olympic 2012
Visit the
technology laboratory of LOCOG in Canary Wharf, we see the PCs and staffs which
will provide the technology core in each Olympic event. Each event has a cell,
which contains 3 servers and a small group of engineers. Two servers run
simultaneously to provide backup server immediately if there is malfunction.
Third server is a backup machine that can be switched if a server is failed.
The GT350-branded F1 Tower server of Gateway (a subsidiary of Acer) uses
the processor and Xeon chipset are slightly outdated, but the technology was
examined.
In addition
to be tested at Canary Wharf, the event cells were tested at the actual test in
preparation event for the Olympic. While we were there, LOCOG was preparing to
send weightlifting cells to Excel, and when this Shopper issue launch, the cell
for track cycling will be tested in cycling World Cup at the Olympic race.
The Gateway GT350
F1's
Every block
will be tested this way before the competition starts, and if there is any
problem occur, we may need more fake events to solve competition issues. To the
Olympics, every cell will be ready, not just at Olympic Park, but also in all
arenas in the UK.
Of course,
the PC is only a possible failure point. We have talked to the representatives
about terms of internet connection and the server power supply but they
avoided, we are sure that every cell will have a backup system.
CIS Express
The large
number of athletes at Olympic is impressive, but they were overwhelmed by the
number of reporters to cover the event, directly at the venues as well as from
the main Center for International TV/Press Centre (IBC / MPC) at Olympic Park.
This huge
building will contain about 20 thousand members of the media throughout the
event, including TV broadcasters, photographers and reporters. It has 29
thousand m2 of office space, a village serving about 50 thousand
meals/day and a 200m long high road for quick access to utilities such as banks,
travel agents and post office. With everyone, excepting those who have tickets
in the 8.8 million tickets, Olympic is the media event. Much information is
distributed by the media will be placed on the fingers of the reporters by
Commentator Information System (CIS).
The first
time in Olympic history, all 26 games and 5 Paralympic competitions will have
access from the same interface. Software for commentator to access results
quickly, as well as background information on the performance of athletes in the
previous period. Acer is providing about 2,000 touch screens for the
commentator at the Olympic venues to give them quick access to the information
they need.
However,
CIS is only one mean of providing information. It will also be sent to the
competition result system of Omega, where it will be presented for the benefit
of commentators and athletes.
Meet TOC
Technology operation center will control all
technology through the Games
CIS and
other information systems are managed by the technology operations center
(TOC). It has been operating since May 2011, and had arranged data from the
trial events and act as a first point of contact for troubleshooting.
At the
Olympic peak, TOC will have about 450 IT staffs work to provide people for 150
places. Beside the result system, they will monitor the health of technology
infrastructure (data centers, for example), IT security, power and
communication systems. An employee TOC revealed that there is a backup TOC
elsewhere in case a problem occurs and destroys the main base, but no official
confirmation for this.
Wider equipment terms
Not every
provided PC is involved in the result recognition or helps the media to
broadcast the news. Many thousands of PCs will be used to sell tickets
and organize 200 thousands of employees and volunteers. Others are provided for
the athletes to use, so that they can keep in touch with each other and family.
We asked
Acer what would happen to the PCs after the Games end. Acer said that they are
the property of LOCOG now. Some will still be used in other arenas. After the
Vancouver Olympics had finished, the remaining PCs are purchased by local
government for use in libraries, schools etc, so perhaps a similar deal will
happen here.
As you can
see, there are many technologies behind the scenes at the Olympics. It may not
be the most advanced, but it's there to work quietly and reliably than your
eyes. If the Olympics have passed without any problems with the score or the
result board, you can be sure that the technology companies and IT staffs will
celebrate.
