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Disney’s Dream Home Folly: Story Time Room, Magic Mirror, RFID, Surface
About three-fourths of the technology in the Dream Home at Disneyland is "real," but guests can also enjoy some futuristic goodies.
The Magic Mirror is one of the few Dream Home non-realities, but it’s fun for the kids and, according to Microsoft, “The whole goal is to capture people’s imagination.”
About three-fourths of the technology in the Innoventions Dream Home at Disneyland is "real" and available today – the HP TouchSmart touchscreen PCs and MediaSmart TVs; Lifeware automation software, servers and LifePoint touchscreens from Exceptional Innovation; and Windows Vista Media Center technology are all on the market.
The primary aim of Disney and its partners was to create an interactive environment where consumers can experience technology available today.
But you have to keep it interesting.
"Were' showing them [guests] some things that are really far out, and some things that are just far out to them," says Eric Hollreiser, director of consumer strategy and communications at Microsoft.
The wackiest display at the Dream Home was undoubtedly the Magic Mirror.
In the girl's room, son Carlos Elias (for some reason) modeled virtual clothes – a nice selection of party dresses and casual ware -- in the mirror.
From a touchscreen on the bureau, Carlos selected from a variety of clothes and accessories, which he wore beautifully. The apparel moved with him as he swished and swirled.
The image-mapping software behind the Magic Mirror "is real," says Jonathan Cluts, director of consumer prototyping and strategy at Microsoft. "You can buy it today."
In fact, all the other pieces that make up the Magic Mirror are available. It's just that no one has created a marketable package for such an implementation (although high-end retailers employ similar technology).
For the Magic Mirror to work, users first take a body scan by spinning around in front of a camera. Clothes would be scanned as well, but for an in-home application to become feasible, clothing manufacturers would have to post their virtual garments online.
Each Dream Home actor wears an RF sensor so the Magic Mirror can automatically determine whose character and which garments to load into the Magic Mirror system.
RFID readers are concealed in door frames and elsewhere in the home, and can trigger the appropriate LifeScenes when a Disney host enters.
The technology, however, is used primarily for storytelling. When a character enters a room, the audio mutes and the character automatically usurps the local controls.
Although I didn't see it, apparently there is the quintessential RFID demo in the kitchen. According to the press release:
Eventually, RFID may take a larger role in the Dream Home. "The more I've thought about it, the more I think it's doable," says Chaz Yost, senior producer at Disneyland Resorts. "Certainly they're doing it in retail. I think it'll happen [in the home] … eventually."
Even more far-fetched than the Magic Mirror was the Story Time room, but it sure was a treat to have a bedtime story told to us by the Elias' next-door neighbor "Ryan."
At the press of the "Story Time" button on the LifePoint touchscreen, the room darkens, the storyteller takes his place at a rocking chair, and he reads a story about Peter Pan.
Two projectors are hidden on the front and rear walls, and several flat-screen TVs line a side wall to simulate starry nights, cloudy days and other outdoor scenes.
Characters flit around the room during Ryan's story. Tinkerbell, at one point, "flies" across the room, triggering lights to flash and chimes to tinkle.
"The whole goal is to capture people's imagination," says Cluts.
Microsoft's Surface technology isn't necessarily "out there" but it hasn't yet gone anywhere in the residential channel, and it is still an emerging product for commercial applications.
In the Dream Home, guests have at least five Surface-enabled touchscreen tables to organize images that float across the screen (no other applications were operable at the time.)
Cluts says Microsoft has taken a "very strategic approach" to Surface technology.
"We knew the first ones would be larger than would be used in homes," he says. "In the future, we do see it used in homes, like for games."
The primary aim of Disney and its partners was to create an interactive environment where consumers can experience technology available today.
But you have to keep it interesting.
"Were' showing them [guests] some things that are really far out, and some things that are just far out to them," says Eric Hollreiser, director of consumer strategy and communications at Microsoft.
What Shall I Wear Today?
The wackiest display at the Dream Home was undoubtedly the Magic Mirror.
In the girl's room, son Carlos Elias (for some reason) modeled virtual clothes – a nice selection of party dresses and casual ware -- in the mirror.
From a touchscreen on the bureau, Carlos selected from a variety of clothes and accessories, which he wore beautifully. The apparel moved with him as he swished and swirled.
The image-mapping software behind the Magic Mirror "is real," says Jonathan Cluts, director of consumer prototyping and strategy at Microsoft. "You can buy it today."
In fact, all the other pieces that make up the Magic Mirror are available. It's just that no one has created a marketable package for such an implementation (although high-end retailers employ similar technology).
For the Magic Mirror to work, users first take a body scan by spinning around in front of a camera. Clothes would be scanned as well, but for an in-home application to become feasible, clothing manufacturers would have to post their virtual garments online.
RFID Recognizes Actors and Groceries
Each Dream Home actor wears an RF sensor so the Magic Mirror can automatically determine whose character and which garments to load into the Magic Mirror system.
RFID readers are concealed in door frames and elsewhere in the home, and can trigger the appropriate LifeScenes when a Disney host enters.
The technology, however, is used primarily for storytelling. When a character enters a room, the audio mutes and the character automatically usurps the local controls.
Although I didn't see it, apparently there is the quintessential RFID demo in the kitchen. According to the press release:
Since this Dream Home Kitchen is fully interconnected, appliances can “talk” to one another. So can the grocery items! If Mrs. Elias puts a bag of flour on the counter, the computer voice of “Lillian” will provide recipes and instructions to prepare the meals. If ingredients are missing or out-of-date, the interconnected pantry and refrigerator will share the information and create a shopping list on the virtual bulletin board.
Eventually, RFID may take a larger role in the Dream Home. "The more I've thought about it, the more I think it's doable," says Chaz Yost, senior producer at Disneyland Resorts. "Certainly they're doing it in retail. I think it'll happen [in the home] … eventually."
Best Bedtime Story Ever
Even more far-fetched than the Magic Mirror was the Story Time room, but it sure was a treat to have a bedtime story told to us by the Elias' next-door neighbor "Ryan."
At the press of the "Story Time" button on the LifePoint touchscreen, the room darkens, the storyteller takes his place at a rocking chair, and he reads a story about Peter Pan.
Two projectors are hidden on the front and rear walls, and several flat-screen TVs line a side wall to simulate starry nights, cloudy days and other outdoor scenes.
Characters flit around the room during Ryan's story. Tinkerbell, at one point, "flies" across the room, triggering lights to flash and chimes to tinkle.
"The whole goal is to capture people's imagination," says Cluts.
On the Surface
Microsoft's Surface technology isn't necessarily "out there" but it hasn't yet gone anywhere in the residential channel, and it is still an emerging product for commercial applications.
In the Dream Home, guests have at least five Surface-enabled touchscreen tables to organize images that float across the screen (no other applications were operable at the time.)
Cluts says Microsoft has taken a "very strategic approach" to Surface technology.
"We knew the first ones would be larger than would be used in homes," he says. "In the future, we do see it used in homes, like for games."
Disney Dream Home
 | Lifeware, Microsoft Star in Disney Dream Home at Innoventions HP and homebuilder Taylor Morrison also sponsor the 5,000-square foot home, which features some way-out technology, but mostly "real" stuff that is available today. Disney's Dream Home Folly: Story Time Room, Magic Mirror, RFID, Surface About three-fourths of the technology in the Innoventions Dream Home at Disneyland is "real," but guests can also enjoy some futuristic goodies. Will Innoventions Dream Home Pay off For Lifeware and Partners? Lifeware, Microsoft, HP and Taylor Morrison put $6 million into the Dream Home (sans product/labor) -- and that's just for starters. It's great for the industry, but is it worth it for the investors? | |
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About the Author
Julie Jacobson, Editor-at-large, CE Pro
Julie Jacobson is co-founder of EH Publishing and currently spends most of her time writing for CE Pro, mostly in the areas of home automation, networked A/V and the business of home systems integration. She majored in Economics at the University of Michigan, earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, and has never taken a journalism class in her life. Julie is a washed-up Ultimate Frisbee player with the scars to prove it. Follow her on Twitter @juliejacobson.
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