U2 Space Baby — Hyperlaunch

Hyperlaunch Achieves World-First Integration with The Sphere for U2’s Space Baby App

Overview

U2 faced a significant challenge for their highly anticipated performances at The Sphere in Las Vegas, a $2.3 billion venue featuring a 111-metre high LED screen. The task was to create a web app that could deliver perfectly synchronised audio-visual content, aligning the audio with the complex visuals displayed on The Sphere’s external display. Hyperlaunch met the technical challenge of achieving perfectly timed audio that synced to the millisecond with the visuals, becoming the first technology company in the world to integrate with The Sphere.

Photo of the U2 Space Baby on the Sphere exo-screen

The Challenge

U2’s creative team needed the web app to ensure that the audio played on user devices was perfectly in sync with the visuals of a talking space baby displayed on The Sphere’s external display during their performances. The challenge was to achieve flawless synchronisation between the live visuals on the massive screen and the audio streamed through the web app, down to the millisecond.

The Solution

Hyperlaunch devised a unique solution, becoming the first to integrate with The Sphere’s internal systems by using audio pre-fetching and real-time web socket technology. The web app pre-loads the audio on user devices and uses web sockets to receive real-time data on the exact frame of the video playing on The Sphere. This approach enables Hyperlaunch to achieve millisecond-perfect synchronisation between the audio and visuals, providing a seamless and immersive experience for users.

This groundbreaking solution allows users to experience the illusion of the space baby speaking directly to them, with audio perfectly synced to the visuals. Hyperlaunch’s approach set a new standard as the first to achieve such a precise integration with The Sphere’s advanced screen technology through a web app.

On the backend, the app uses Turso and Vercel for full edge distribution, ensuring fast and efficient content delivery across the globe. Built with Astro, the app is optimised for high performance, capable of handling significant user loads without compromising on speed or quality, catering to U2’s extensive international fan base.

To complement the technical complexity, U2’s Creative Partner, Modern English, provided the visual design, ensuring that the app’s look and feel were as engaging as the content itself.

Technical Details

Web App Development: Designed as a web app for easy access and broad compatibility across user devices.
Audio Pre-Fetching and Synchronisation: Audio is pre-fetched and synchronised with The Sphere’s visuals using real-time web socket technology.
Web Socket Technology: Provides real-time updates on the video’s frame, enabling millisecond-perfect synchronisation of audio and visuals.
Edge Distribution: Uses Turso and Vercel for swift and efficient global content delivery.
Performance: Developed with Astro to maintain high performance, even under heavy user load.

Results

The U2 Space Baby web app was an immediate success, drawing over 10,000 unique users within the first hour of its launch. This rapid uptake demonstrated the app’s appeal and the flawless execution of Hyperlaunch’s synchronisation technology, enhanced by Modern English’s creative design.

Client Testimonials

Chris Drury, Head of Production at Modern English, stated, “It was a pleasure collaborating with Hyperlaunch. Their skill and capability made this complex project a reality.”

Chris Garrett, CEO of Hyperlaunch, commented, “This project for The Sphere showcased our ability to solve intricate technical challenges. Working closely with Modern English allowed us to combine our technical prowess with a compelling visual design.”

Conclusion

The U2 Space Baby web app demonstrates Hyperlaunch’s capability to deliver advanced solutions for complex technical challenges. With Hyperlaunch’s innovative technology and Modern English’s creative design, the project resulted in a flawless, immersive experience for U2 fans. This collaboration sets the stage for future projects, and brands looking to create unique experiences for The Sphere are invited to explore new opportunities with Hyperlaunch.