Disney HoloTiles
Good news! Our spaceship’s recreation bay is now outfitted with three Disney HoloTile stations!
What are Disney HoloTiles?
Disney HoloTiles are this really neat invention in development by Disney Imagineering. These tiles allow people to move around in a virtual space, and feel like they are moving, while remaining in the center of the tiles. This allows multiple players to experience Virtual Reality collectively without risk of collision with each other or other objects in the bay.
How Do They Work?
The HoloTiles are made up of small hexagons which can switch planes or sides to operate like a treadmill. The tiles keep the object on top moving toward its center. If that object is a person, they can step forward and their foot is drawn back to its starting position like a treadmill. The difference here is, on HoloTiles the person can change directions without falling off!
What Uses Could Disney HoloTiles Have?
The obvious and most exciting use, of course, is for virtual reality games. Players can move around a virtual space in relative safety. Similarly, they could be used for virtual experiences in which participants explore historical landmarks or museums. These could include landmarks in foreign countries, reducing the costs to explore the Eifel Tower or the Great Pyramids. But they could also include physically restrictive locations like the Mariana Trench or the International Space Station.
In a more mundane sense (kinda…), the HoloTiles can be integrated into virtual exercise. Athletes can run/bike across a virtual landscape for infinite distance and direction, perhaps exploring a new city or national forest. Martial artists might fight virtual opponents or practice against virtual targets.
The HoloTiles could also be useful for business. Corporations could lead virtual tours of new sites or prototypes. Users can walk around the latest car (or spaceship) design to get a close up understanding of the product in which they might invest.
Integrate HoloTiles Now!
HoloTiles have the potential to increase the popularity and availability of virtual reality. If you are interested in learning more, check out these links:
Disney HoloTile Floor Treadmill
Disney Unveils the HoloTile Floor Inching Us Closer to a Real Life Holodeck
I Tried a Secret Disney Project!