Disney's patent for virtual world simulator for theme parks as the first-step jumping into the metaverse realm
Release time:
2022-01-07 11:05
Disney is an American multinational entertainment and media conglomerate headquartered in the U.S. The company established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into live-action film production, television, and theme parks. Furthermore, Disney is famous for pushing the envelope regarding theme park technologies.
Disney plans to create a virtual reality space where people interact in a digital-simulated environment. On December 28th, 2021, the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted Disney Enterprises, Inc. a patent “Virtual-world simulator”, US11210843B1(“843B1” as following).
This recently approved Disney patent puts the company one step into creating its own metaverse. The invention of 843B1, a virtual world simulator, includes a computing platform. The computing platform contains a hardware processor, a tracking system, and a handheld device configured for use by a user in the real-world venue and communicatively coupled to the computing platform. The simulator may apply inside a room or different parts of Disney theme parks or Disney properties. Disney aims to create a virtual experience by the simulator in a real-world venue.
Currently, most projectors shine an animated or visual image on a two-dimensional surface. That's the image that most people see regardless of different vantage points. The patent 843B1 uses multiple projectors to enable one or multiple users to experience a virtual world through virtual effects applied to a three-dimensional object inside the room. The projectors first map the environment, track users, and project the corresponding virtual simulation in the actual real-world venue. Moreover, the projectors project different virtual or animated things on physical objects around them.
Take the Enchanted Rose in “Beauty and the Beast” for example. Disney would just need to place a plastic cylinder inside a room with this invention and let the projectors do all the work to make it look like an enchanted rose. Therefore, the projected images would appear like a hologram.
On the other hand, Disney plans to create a handheld device to show the virtual image rather than just having projectors mounted all around a room. People would hold a handheld device like a flashlight, and as they shine it over an element in the room, something will be animated there. The users won't see a virtual version of themselves in the room. However, the whole space around them will be virtual.
The patent is different from augmented reality (AR), where computer-generated images appear through a device. Instead, Disney developed a system almost similar to a movie projector to project what humans see on a screen on a real surface. So it's more real-world experience rather than looking at it through a screen. And there's no need for a virtual reality headset, augmented reality glasses or those types of goggles.
The possibilities for this new technology are endless. Usually, it takes applicants nearly two years to patent an invention at the U.S. Patent Office. The patent application was filed on July 15th, 2021. Disney expedited the filing and received it in six months. We can see their ambition to be leaders in this space and technology.
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