Disney has been approved for a patent that would create personalized interactive attractions for theme park visitors. The technology would facilitate headphone-free augmented reality (AR) attractions at Disney theme parks.
The technology would work by tracking visitors using their mobile phones and generating and projecting custom 3D effects onto nearby physical spaces, walls, and objects in the park.
The entertainment giant was approved for a "virtual world simulator in a real world location." patent on December 28, 2021. It was originally filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in July 2020.
The "metaverseโHas been largely imagined as existing on the Internet, accessed via virtual reality (VR) or AR headsets. However, the technology proposed by Disney would bring the Metaverse to the physical world.
This is not the first time Disney has indicated its interest in metaverse. During the company's fourth-quarter earnings call during November 2021, CEO Bob Chapek said the company is preparing to combine physical and digital assets in the metaverse.
"We will be able to connect the physical and digital worlds even more closely, allowing for limitless storytelling in our own Disney Metaverse."
In November 2020, Disney Resorts Chief Strategy Officer Tilak Mandadi shared on Linkedin Article who had his sights set on combining the digital and physical worlds.
โAs we look to the future, connected park experiences that transcend the physical and digital barrier and unlock new layers of storytelling are a very exciting approach for us,โ he wrote at the time.
โThese experiences are perennial, and the commitment of the visitors is inside and outside the parks. They are unique to you, but they are also social and connected. They are constantly changing, so there is always something new to discover โ.
Related: Samsung launches metaverse store in Decentraland
Although Disney told the LA Times With "no current plans" to use the simulator in the near future, the recently approved patent echoes Mandadi's vision for a "theme park metaverse."
There are 12 official Disney theme parks around the world, in the US, Paris, Hong Kong, Japan, and China. In 2021, Disney generated a total revenue of nearly $ 17 billion with its parks, experiences and products segment despite global lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
