The legacy of invention and technology that comes out of Disney Imagineering is some of the closest we’ll get to a sci-fi future. And two of Disney Parks’ most recent incredible projects come from Lanny Smoot, a Disney legend who has already patented over 100 inventions, 74 of which are at Disney Imagineering—including Madame Leota’s floating head.
You’ll be familiar with his work on that incredible lightsaber he made as real as possible with retractable “laser” action. And now he’s made a very real HoloDeck-inspired invention, a game-changer for the world of VR. “We call it the HoloTile floor,” Smoot shared in a video released by Disney Parks to celebrate his induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame; he’s only the second Disney inventor to become a member. The first was Walt Disney himself, for his work on the multi-plane camera.
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He continued, “Imagine a number of people being in a room, being able to be somewhere else collaboratively and moving around … doing sightseeing. Imagine theatrical stages that might have these embedded in them so dancers can do amazing moves. There’s so many applications for this type of technology.” He added they don’t know yet where the company will use it, but we are very excited to find out. Based on some the demonstration seen in the video, we wonder if it might be paired with his lightsaber for Star Wars stage shows—we definitely think the interviewer was practicing Force-pushing Smoot on a chair over the HoloTiles near the end. The Imagineer looks to be having a blast, and he clearly loves his job. Smoot admits, “It gives me an amazing opportunity to use these inventions that I’ve made in service of people having fun.”
Watch the video interview and tech demonstration below!
Hopefully we’ll be seeing the HoloTile in action soon at Disney Parks.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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Maria Malik is your guide to the immersive world of Virtual Reality (VR). With a passion for VR technology, she explores the latest VR headsets, applications, and experiences, providing readers with in-depth reviews, industry insights, and a glimpse into the future of virtual experiences.
