Disney unveils 'Magic Bench' mixed reality technology
03 Aug 2017 . BY Ben Coxon
The Magic Bench allows users to see, hear and interact with animated characters
Disney's research and development arm has revealed a new mixed reality technology concept – a bench which allows people to see, hear and interact with virtual characters in the real world.
Unveiled at the 2017 Siggraph Tech conference, the prototype uses depth sensors from a Microsoft Kinect and an RGB camera to render an image of the bench and the users on it. This rendering is then displayed as a mirror image on an opposite screen so the user can see the virtual characters and interact with them in real time.
The experience is a simple ‘walk up and play’, requiring no special technology on the part of the user with no setup time.
"This platform creates a multi-sensory immersive experience in which a group can interact directly with an animated character," said Moshe Mahler, principal digital artist at Disney Research. "Our mantra for this project was: hear a character coming, see them enter the space, and feel them sit next to you."
One demonstrations of the technology shows a small cartoon elephant jumping up onto the bench. It then proceeds to hand the user a golden orb, which they can take from the virtual character.
The Magic Bench is capable of offering group orientated experiences, with multiple persons able to enjoy the experience at the same time.
To further enhance the experience, the bench features haptic technology corresponding with the movements of the virtual character, giving the person sitting on the bench the sense that a physical presence with weight and impact is sharing the bench with them.
Disney Research has its eyes on virtual and augmented reality, with other developments from the division including an augmented reality colouring app, where users can live map colour from a 2D colouring book onto an animated 3D model. The research team is now taking that technology beyond drawings, looking at how it can apply it to musical and educational experiences
Formerly known as Gantner Ticketing, Vintia is a state-of-the-art ticketing and booking
solution for the leisure industry and the newest addition to the Salto Wecosystem.
Rollercoaster and ride designer and manufacturer Maurer Rides has announced its latest
concept, the Spike Waterfight, which allows spectators and rollercoaster riders to soak one
another with water cannons.
Media based attractions creator Triotech has announced the opening of its latest
attraction, a next generation interactive dark coaster installed at Lagoon Park in Salt
Lake City, Utah, US.
Long known for its fancy casinos, Macau realized within the past decade that it must
diversify its tourism scene to attract new crowds. With the ambition of becoming the
leisure hub of China’s 72-million strong Greater Bay Area, the city began adding shows,
attractions, and family-friendly hotels. But the offering that truly stands out with fun
for everyone is Studio City Water Park – Macau’s first stand-alone water park, with all
the water slides and aquatic play structures supplied by WhiteWater.
The experience economy, driven by evolving consumer trends, is poised for continued growth
in the coming years. Millennials have been at the forefront of this shift, favouring
memorable experiences over material possessions. This preference has extended to other
generations as well, indicating a broader adoption of experience-focused spending habits
in the attractions sector.
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to
unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a captivating visitor exhibition at the
Trafford Wharf site.
Aiming to become a top entertainment destination in southern Vietnam for both domestic and
international tourists, VinWonders Phú Quốc opened in 2021 as the biggest theme park in
the country.
Disney unveils 'Magic Bench' mixed reality technology
03 Aug 2017 . BY Ben Coxon
The Magic Bench allows users to see, hear and interact with animated characters
Disney's research and development arm has revealed a new mixed reality technology concept – a bench which allows people to see, hear and interact with virtual characters in the real world.
Unveiled at the 2017 Siggraph Tech conference, the prototype uses depth sensors from a Microsoft Kinect and an RGB camera to render an image of the bench and the users on it. This rendering is then displayed as a mirror image on an opposite screen so the user can see the virtual characters and interact with them in real time.
The experience is a simple ‘walk up and play’, requiring no special technology on the part of the user with no setup time.
"This platform creates a multi-sensory immersive experience in which a group can interact directly with an animated character," said Moshe Mahler, principal digital artist at Disney Research. "Our mantra for this project was: hear a character coming, see them enter the space, and feel them sit next to you."
One demonstrations of the technology shows a small cartoon elephant jumping up onto the bench. It then proceeds to hand the user a golden orb, which they can take from the virtual character.
The Magic Bench is capable of offering group orientated experiences, with multiple persons able to enjoy the experience at the same time.
To further enhance the experience, the bench features haptic technology corresponding with the movements of the virtual character, giving the person sitting on the bench the sense that a physical presence with weight and impact is sharing the bench with them.
Disney Research has its eyes on virtual and augmented reality, with other developments from the division including an augmented reality colouring app, where users can live map colour from a 2D colouring book onto an animated 3D model. The research team is now taking that technology beyond drawings, looking at how it can apply it to musical and educational experiences
Formerly known as Gantner Ticketing, Vintia is a state-of-the-art ticketing and booking
solution for the leisure industry and the newest addition to the Salto Wecosystem.
Rollercoaster and ride designer and manufacturer Maurer Rides has announced its latest
concept, the Spike Waterfight, which allows spectators and rollercoaster riders to soak one
another with water cannons.
Media based attractions creator Triotech has announced the opening of its latest
attraction, a next generation interactive dark coaster installed at Lagoon Park in Salt
Lake City, Utah, US.
Christie laser projectors have been used at an experiential art exhibition designed by
media production firm Design Silver Fish to celebrate the history, culture and ecology of
Damyan in South Korea – known for its strawberries and bamboo products.
It can take a while for visitors to identify the species of fish they’re looking at in an
aquarium – trying to match them up with information on an information panel can take time
and isn’t always straightforward. Now a new aquarium by Taiwan’s Industrial Technology
Research Institute (ITRI) helps by exhibiting marine life information in real time
according to visitors’ line of sight.
