Search Results for: blog disney augments reality

Disney Interactive Unveils New Game, Console Plans

Disney’s never been much of a name in gaming.  Disney Interactive is the only branch of the company that has reported consistent losses.  In the past few years, Disney hasn’t even put that much of an effort into console gaming, choosing to focus on simple games played on websites like Facebook or on mobile devices.  But that might be about to change. Gaming website CNET reports that Disney’s taken out a patent for a gaming console that employs augmented reality.  This isn’t the first of Disney’s augmented reality patents; late last year I blogged about one involving images projected over … Continue reading →

Disney Patents Virtual Cake Toppers

As Disney has been experimenting more and more with augmented reality, I’ve tried to imagine scenarios in which the company could put it to use. My focus has always been on the Disney Parks, on how it could allow guests to further interact with exhibits. Apparently, Walt Disney Co. itself has been focusing more on how they can augment our food. Technology website Gizmag details a recently filed patent by the Disney Company, one that covers the use of augmented reality for cakes. That’s right, cakes. Gizmag says that most of what’s on the patent is still theoretical, but it … Continue reading →

Disney Develops Screens with Sense of Touch

We know Disney and its Imagineers are all about innovating. They do everything from researching new technology and its uses to designing new games and rides for the parks. Today I’m checking back in with Disney Research, the division that focuses on the former. A while back I looked at Disney augmenting reality: a fancy word for integrating technology into our life, or in this case, specifically, the park experience. Think of the “Kim Possible” game at Epcot, which reads data on your cell phone to help you move forward through the game. Now Disney Research is pushing its augumented … Continue reading →

Once Upon A Time vs. Reality

Banishment to a place like this is the supposed horrible unhappy ending for the people of the Enchanted Forest The second episode of “Once Upon A Time” aired on Sunday. I don’t know if I’ll do weekly recaps or reviews, but I wanted to revisit the show on my blog because last week and this week raised interesting themes I didn’t have time to explore in my first overview. The crux of the conflict of “Once Upon A Time” revolves around the fact that the curse–which took the fairy tale inhabitants of the Enchanted Forest and trapped them in modern … Continue reading →

The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World

Can you see the hidden Mickey in the ceiling of this Epcot store? The last of my books about Disney World, “The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World,” is for the park’s devotees. Its subtitle is, “Over 600 secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom,” and author Susan Veness makes good on that promise. If you’re a fan of Disney World, not just of its rides but of its whole experience, this is the book for you. If you’ve been to the park so many times that now you’re starting to notice all of its … Continue reading →

Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children

Disney has a history of helping in hospitals Going to the hospital can be a scary time for anyone, but especially for children. If it’s the child being taken for a hospital visit, and not just accompanying others to visit someone else, the experience becomes even more frightening. Kids can sense how upset the parents must be at the situation, which might only double their own fears. Anything that might help lessen those fears and distract children from their upsetting time at a hospital, then, is fantastic. Kudos to Walt Disney Imagineering and Florida Hospital for Children for their recent … Continue reading →

What Is DisneyQuest?

Lately many articles I write seem to be giving me other ideas for more, as I learn about new Disney topics I’d like to explore. Today’s inspiration comes from my New Year’s Eve article; one of the settings at Disney World for end-of-the-year celebrations was DisneyQuest. I’d never heard of the attraction before, so I did some research and now I’m bringing what I’ve learned to you. The Disney World website describes DisneyQuest as an “indoor interactive theme park” with a “one-of-a-kind gaming experience.” Think restaurants like Dave & Busters or even just a classic indoor arcade, but with a … Continue reading →

Disney Augments Reality

No matter how I feel about the current direction of Disney movies, the Disney parks are truly committed to continuing Walt’s vision. One of the many things that made Walt Disney famous was his constant innovation, be it in animation or technology. Epcot is a perfect example of how Walt’s dedication to being on the cutting technological edge was constantly on display in his parks. The Disney parks Imagineers have continued in Walt’s spirit to this day. One of the latest examples of that is through augmented reality. Techie blog thomaskcarpenter.com, a site often dedicated to exploring advancements in augmented … Continue reading →

“Up” House Flies — For Real

Many months ago I posted that Utah-based real estate company had built a house modeled after the one from “Up”. Well that’s been sold now, so unless you’ve got enough money to build a customized house, there goes your opportunity to live in in Carl and Ellie’s home. But it’s not your only chance to check out real-life versions of the most famous flying home since Dorothy’s Kansas abode. Last year National Geographic built a wooden house-sized structure and lifted it into the air using balloons. It was all part of a feature for the National Geographic’s “How Hard Can … Continue reading →

SidebySide: An Innovative New Projection Technology

When watching the Marvel film “Iron Man 2,” I was struck by something interesting. The portrayal of Tony Stark’s father Howard Stark, played by “Man Men” actor John Slatterly, reminded me of someone: Walt Disney. Within the movie Howard Stark is only seen in promotional films he made in the 1960s. He sports a sleek suit and trimmed mustache, and he addresses the audience from his private office. He leans against a large table containing a miniature model display of his latest project, which he describes to the audience. It’s all Walt Disney making his little filmed announcements about pioneering … Continue reading →