EPCOT 1980,s video touch screen

Kit83

Kit83

Active Member
Original Poster
Not sure if I dreamed this as it was many years ago,while visiting EPCOT in 1984 we were caught in heavy rain so we ran to the nearest cover, it was basically a post with a roof that had enough room for us all to take shelter . On the post was a video screen and I think a touch screen, my father who speaks fluent welsh asked for a CM who could speak his home language, to our amazement they did after a short wait ! We were very impressed .

As I said did I dream this ? Was there touch screen video chat back then ? If so any one have photos ?Are they still there ?
 
WhatJaneSays

WhatJaneSays

Well-Known Member
There was a bank of them to the left of the guest services entrance. The empty consoles were still there last I checked.

I remember them quite clearly because my mother BROKE ONE. She always was (and still is) a static magnet and to this day has problems with touchscreen devices.
 
Cmdr_Crimson

Cmdr_Crimson

Well-Known Member
During the D23 Attraction Rewind they had Ipad's set up so you can try World Key Information & Games from Computer Central..

Plus you can still see the old Kiosks adjacent to Guest Relations in Epcot..
WorldKey-epcot_kiosks.jp.jpg
 
Kit83

Kit83

Active Member
Original Poster
Thanks the video clip is great, so not a dream after all . Very impressive system for the time . Thanks again I really enjoyed that .
 
MinnieM123

MinnieM123

Premium Member
marni1971 said:
Remember the kiosk area by Guest Relations isn't original. The 'Key got booted here in 1993-4 when Global Neighborhood took over Earthstation.
Click to expand...

Really enjoyed the video you made on the video screens. I recall being absolutely astounded that a person could actually see and talk to a friendly CM via a screen, to make a dinner reservation in the park! :happy: Thanks for that lovely trip down memory lane.
 
G

goldenstate5

Active Member
Monorail Mike said:
These were called WorldKey Information kiosks. Martin has an excellent video that explains how the entire system worked.

Click to expand...


One of my least favorite things about Martin's (otherwise terrific) videos is pretty much present here: refusing at all costs to use the original video source audio. That's the longest WorldKey video I've ever seen and I know it had musical accompaniment but instead... original UoE area music.

I kind of wish he could one day just release all the great video he has in a regular, unedited dump... I'd love hearing the sounds of EPCOT Center back then as they truly were.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
goldenstate5 said:
One of my least favorite things about Martin's (otherwise terrific) videos is pretty much present here: refusing at all costs to use the original video source audio. That's the longest WorldKey video I've ever seen and I know it had musical accompaniment but instead... original UoE area music.

I kind of wish he could one day just release all the great video he has in a regular, unedited dump... I'd love hearing the sounds of EPCOT Center back then as they truly were.
Click to expand...
Thanks but I'm afraid There is a reason.

Dad was using his new camcorder on that trip. One of those full sized, sat on a shoulder ones. It had an external mic attached that had separate power. You guessed it. He didn't turn the mic on.
 
Mista C

Mista C

Well-Known Member
I remember these very well! As a 9 year old on my first trip to EPCOT, I was blown away by these. And being able to make a dining reservation FOR THE SAME DAY is as mind blowing as the touch screen's themselves! I would also stand in Communicore and play games on the touch screens for hours at a time. I remember there was one where you had to sort different colored luggage off a conveyor belt to the corresponding colored airplanes. It was absolutely amazing to me at the time.
 
ShookieJones

ShookieJones

We need time for things to happen.
Wow...A lot of memories are flooding back!
I am remembering taking my wife (then girlfriend) for her first trip to the World and making dining reservations at one of those kiosks! Sheeze...those were the days (in so many ways).
 
Ben_since_1971

Ben_since_1971

Well-Known Member
I seem to recall they had these also outside Germany where the outdoor crystal shop is now. I used it one Christmas. We had reservations for LTT at MK on Christmas Day in 1998-99 (don't remember exactly which year, were staying off site and didn't get there early enough so the park filled up. We ended up at Epcot, was walking WS, saw the kiosks, got online with someone who said the MK had re-opened. We still had time to make our reservation so we scooted over. I thought they were pretty cool.
 
wdwjmp239

wdwjmp239

Well-Known Member
Kit83 said:
Not sure if I dreamed this as it was many years ago,while visiting EPCOT in 1984 we were caught in heavy rain so we ran to the nearest cover, it was basically a post with a roof that had enough room for us all to take shelter . On the post was a video screen and I think a touch screen, my father who speaks fluent welsh asked for a CM who could speak his home language, to our amazement they did after a short wait ! We were very impressed .

As I said did I dream this ? Was there touch screen video chat back then ? If so any one have photos ?Are they still there ?
Click to expand...

Nope! Not a dream! The last time I used Guest Relations at Epcot was actually quite a few years ago (I'm a local Floridian - go to Disney on a whim these days - usually for quick weekend trips). They used to be outside guest relations closest in to Spaceship Earth. Back then, I remember tarps being on them to cover them. I also remember telling my wife about the Worldkey Information System. She was like, "What the heck is that?!?!?" She wasn't old enough to remember - as she was 8 years old back then and didn't frequent Disney as much as my parents did when I was growing up). Times have changed.... :(
 
THEMEPARKPIONEER

THEMEPARKPIONEER

Well-Known Member
I cant even imagine what seeing all this was like in the 80's. It must have been like some wild unimaginable dream. I still remember being amazed in the late 90's and early 2000's. Ill never forget seeing what is now Skype and Facetime and on the back of my mind thinking it was impossible and wondering if we really would ever have that. Now it's something I avoid in my everyday life and even more advanced, that feature is on my phone.
 
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wdwjmp239

wdwjmp239

Well-Known Member
Lands of Wonder said:
I cant even imagine what seeing all this was like in the 80's. It must have been like some wild unimaginable dream. I still remember being amazed in the late 90's and early 2000's. Ill never forget seeing what is now Skype and Facetime and on the back of my mind thinking it was impossible and wondering if we really would ever have that. Now it's something I avoid in my everyday life and even more advanced, that feature is on my phone.
Click to expand...

To see it in the 80s and then to see it now....two different worlds. But, think about this - you're seeing it now....then lets fast forward 30 years....you'll see the changes. :)
 

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