Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Animatronics Could Go Mainstream Thanks to Disney's Latest Program
gizmodo.com: A new paper published by Disney Research describes "an interactive design system that allows non-expert users to create animated mechanical characters." Physical characters, unlike their digital versions, can only be animated by creating a mechanical system that can control and power their motion. For example, when you go to Disney World and see a weird bear in a party hat dancing and waving at you, all of that motion is being controlled by turning gears—much like a clock. This technology, as the researchers point out, predates computers, video, or film.
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2 comments:
With the popularity of DIY and youtubers growing, Disney would do well to make this open to the public. It is incredibly difficult to create animations, but if there will soon be a software that allows one to easily manipulate any object or animation, they would be ubiquitous. The only worry I have for Disney is that as they put out this program, copies will be made and many companies will start putting out similar software. Seeing the progression and process in the video made it all seem very real and easy, I think the software will do great!
Animatronics has been an interest of mine for a while now and I'm suprised to see such a complicated subject simplified so much. It's very exciting to feel like you don't have to take lengthy mechanics and study of movement classes to get the skills to creat your own real life animations. A door has been opened, and of course it's been opened by Disney.
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