Hologram technology...The future?

[Jimmy Thick]

I was recently told about this video and found it to be pretty amazing:



Now, while Iam not the biggest anime fanboi, the technology involved seems to be state of the art and it makes me wonder if perhaps Disney has something like this getting worked on.

Think about it, what if you were walking down Main St USA and a hologram of Walt Disney greeting you by name,( NextGen possibility? ), or what if the long broke Yeti was replaced by a hologram that did more than one thing, like how ToT is random, instead of a animatronic that only grabbed at you when it was working.

Disney has Pixar, who do these incredibly detailed computer animated movies, who could with all intent an purpose make incredible holograms that could define the industry.

A hologram would more than likely never need to be replaced or break down, it could be a fantasic way to offer something new and exciting, and stay within a certain budget.

Or is this cheating? No matter how lifelike a hologram can get, you would never want to see one on PotC or anything else where it replaces a real animatronic?

Would you like to see this tech in the parks?


Jimmy Thick- Yeah, I think I would...

 

[jlevis]

I think that the technology will come to Disney eventually. However, I disagree that it would never break down, after all it is generated by machines. I do agree that I wouldn't want to see holograms replace ALL animatronics.

 

[marni1971]

It is already being researched at WDI for specific, limited uses.

 

[Florida_is_hot]

Watching a hologram is like watching a 3D movie you can tell it is not solid real.
Then during every show you will get 4 or 5 brain trusts taking flash pictures of it.

Cool video though, and it would be great for limited uses.

 

[Jeff456]

I think if as Marni says they are being looked at for limited usage I would be in favour of that... but there is something about the animatronics that I like and I would miss them if they were to be phased out in favour of holograms.

 

[Master Yoda]

It is already being researched at WDI for specific, limited uses.

Isn't this technology already at WDW? It is my understanding that this "new" hologram technology is nothing more than an improved Pepper's ghost effect similar to what is used in the Seas with Nemo.

 

[Lee]

Isn't this technology already at WDW? It is my understanding that this "new" hologram technology is nothing more than an improved Pepper's ghost effect similar to what is used in the Seas with Nemo.

Yep. It's cool, but it isn't a true hologram, it's a video Pepper's ghost.
On display every day at Universal, and coming soon to WDW.

 

[wdwmagic]

Looks good on video when everything is flat, but in real life it still looks very projected. I'm sure one day it will be extremely convincing, but what they have right now is not quite there.

 

[s8film40]

Isn't this technology already at WDW? It is my understanding that this "new" hologram technology is nothing more than an improved Pepper's ghost effect similar to what is used in the Seas with Nemo.

Yep, and pretty much the same as what has been used in Haunted Mansion all these years. Apparently calling it a "hologram" makes it so much more impressive, I don't get it. Personally I want to see someone build a stage sized version of the Sega hologram arcade game, that would be a little more impressive and wouldn't require a giant piece of glass down the middle of the stage.

 

[n2hifi]

I have been seeing the same technology used in churches and corporate events. It's not expensive or high tech. Speaker is in one location and video is live streamed to remote campuses and projected onto a clear or semi-transparent scrim (you can see the outline of the clear panel if you look closely around 2:24 in that video). If you can control viewing angles and distance you can do a pretty good job at suspension of disbelief. If however you are viewing the panel at an oblique angle it starts to flaten out quickly. Either way it is immediately obvious that it is not real when you are actually in the space.

 

[IanDLBZF]

Sound pretty amazing! But in some cases, I would perfer animatronics.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Looks good on video when everything is flat, but in real life it still looks very projected. I'm sure one day it will be extremely convincing, but what they have right now is not quite there.

The video is edited, so I assume the wow factor of it could be based upon that. But I have heard of holograms of dead musicians being terrible on video but fantastic to see in person. Either way, like you said, if they develop this tech to where its hard to distinguish real or fake, do they use it to replace the animatronic and does the general public want that?

If you think about it, they could do just about anything with a hologram but don't have the same luxury with a animatronic.


Jimmy Thick- Gotta see the Freddie Mercury when it comes out...

 

[Redsky89]

First of all that video was hard to watch lol. Second of all I love the animatronics but this new technology would be pretty cool. Disney would have to be careful to not overuse it though. A mix of both would work.

 

[s8film40]

The video is edited, so I assume the wow factor of it could be based upon that. But I have heard of holograms of dead musicians being terrible on video but fantastic to see in person. Either way, like you said, if they develop this tech to where its hard to distinguish real or fake, do they use it to replace the animatronic and does the general public want that?

If you think about it, they could do just about anything with a hologram but don't have the same luxury with a animatronic.


Jimmy Thick- Gotta see the Freddie Mercury when it comes out...

There are far more limitations to using a hologram over an animatronic, the lighting has to be just right and the viewing angle has to be right. Moving attractions as opposed to stage shows where angles and lighting are more controllable present far more problems.

 

[wdwmagic]

The video is edited, so I assume the wow factor of it could be based upon that. But I have heard of holograms of dead musicians being terrible on video but fantastic to see in person. Either way, like you said, if they develop this tech to where its hard to distinguish real or fake, do they use it to replace the animatronic and does the general public want that?

If you think about it, they could do just about anything with a hologram but don't have the same luxury with a animatronic.


Jimmy Thick- Gotta see the Freddie Mercury when it comes out...

Well for me it is as simple as this. If you can make a hologram look solid, no video like, and give it full 3D dimension, I'm all for it. Until then, I'll take AAs.

 

[MrsWhiffo]

Well for me it is as simple as this. If you can make a hologram look solid, no video like, and give it full 3D dimension, I'm all for it. Until then, I'll take AAs.

I saw an amazing one of Dita Von Teese at a Christian Louboutin exibition in London recently and that honey looked very very real My husband was super impressed and no longer angry that I had taken him to a shoe exhibit.

She looked so solid, it was like she was actually there dancing on the stage...

 

[cooleo]

I think the hologram technology is cool & would like to see it in a limited role as marni1971 states. Otherwise, I really like the AA's & definitely don't want to see the use of those diminished in any way. On the hologram idea, wouldn't it be cool to be waiting to ride Star Tours & have a hologram of Princess Leia pop up in the queue area saying "Help us Star Tours passengers, you're our only hope"? There are a couple of other areas that come to mind.

 

[Contrast]

First of all that video was hard to watch lol. Second of all I love the animatronics but this new technology would be pretty cool. Disney would have to be careful to not overuse it though. A mix of both would work.

Completely agree.

 

[Clever Name]

Snoop dogg and Dr. Dre did a great job with Tupac at Coachella. Snoop dogg says he will not be satisfied until the imagine looks solid and can be viewed from all sides! Sorry, but I think Disney is far behind others on this project. I'd post a link but the language is a problem.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

...but can it capture the full awesomeness of mr. Thick?


~ Those holograms in Haunted Mansion are Walt cheaping out on AA's ~