Disney's 'Magic Bench' Offers a New Way to Interact with 3D Characters
Laura McQuarrie — August 16, 2017 — Tech
References: disneyresearch & 3ders.org
At SIGGRAPH 2017 in Los Angeles, Disney debuted a new technology called the 'Magic Bench,' which introduces a new way for people to interact with 3D characters without having to put on a headset for a mixed reality experience.
When the Magic Bench is set up in a room with sensors that detect colors and depth, it is able to bring 3D characters to life on a large-scale screen that is positioned directly in front of the bench. While some experiences make it possible for users to be handed a ball by an elephant, others involve frogs responding to a user's attempts to create contact.
While there are many VR and AR experiences that are offered to consumers, most of them can be disrupted by the barriers of technology, such as bulky headsets, which remove the immersive nature and magic of mixed-reality interactions.
When the Magic Bench is set up in a room with sensors that detect colors and depth, it is able to bring 3D characters to life on a large-scale screen that is positioned directly in front of the bench. While some experiences make it possible for users to be handed a ball by an elephant, others involve frogs responding to a user's attempts to create contact.
While there are many VR and AR experiences that are offered to consumers, most of them can be disrupted by the barriers of technology, such as bulky headsets, which remove the immersive nature and magic of mixed-reality interactions.
Trend Themes
1. Non-headset Mixed Reality - Opportunity to disrupt VR and AR experiences by offering mixed-reality interactions without bulky headsets.
2. Large-scale Mixed Reality - Opportunity to create large-scale mixed-reality experiences using sensor technology to bring 3D characters to life.
3. Multi-sensory Mixed Reality - Opportunity to integrate more senses into mixed-reality experiences to make them feel more immersive and magical.
Industry Implications
1. Entertainment - Opportunity to enhance entertainment experiences by offering non-headset mixed reality interactions.
2. Theme Parks - Opportunity to create large-scale mixed-reality experiences for theme park visitors using sensor technology.
3. Education - Opportunity to make education more immersive and engaging by incorporating multi-sensory mixed-reality experiences.
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