Architects and Google propose 'digital cloud' for Olympics

A group of architects has teamed up with Google to propose a digital cloud concept for the upcoming London Olympics.

The project is called The Cloud and will be both a monument for people to visit as well as a digital display of real-time data.

According to a promotional video, the structure will be “as light as air itself” and will “hover above London”.

The Cloud will feature “a satellite with a real-time information display broadcasting breathtaking Olympic moments and a broader range of events that reveal the collective networks of humanity,” according to the video.

The structure would use energy harvesting and regenerative technology, including solar panels, wind energy and water energy.

The lead architect of the project is Carlo Ratti, a professor at MIT's Senseable City Lab.

Google's role in the project would be to provide live data feeds for display in the cloud.

Additionally, fundraising for the project will be crowdsourced and Google said it will provide advertising for it on its web sites free of charge.