The Science of Disney Imagineering World Science Festival - New York City Saturday, May 31, 2008

Event Flyer (clip to make it large enough read)
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www.WorldScienceFestival.com

Program Overview
Guests get a glimpse of "make-believe" Disney-style as Imagineers pull back the curtain to reveal some of the chemistry, physics, biology and technology behind special effects, roller coasters, computer simulation, and Audio-Animatronics!

The Physics of Roller Coasters

The Show: A volunteer will test out the Human Gyroscope which measures forces on the body. Disney Imagineers talk about thrill rides Mission: SPACE, Tower of Terror and Star Tours and how they work.

The Science: How coasters and thrill rides are scientifically measured and quantified

The Magic of Special Effects

The Show: making magic out of "thin air", covering the audience with fog and demonstrating spatially focused audio

The Science: using acoustics and hypersonic sound to create a haunted mood; how fluid dynamics can create high-speed fog

Fireworks: Painting in the Sky

The Show: air-launch technology is demonstrated using t-shirts instead of pyrotechnics.

The Science: how chemistry creates colors for fireworks shows

Computer Simulation and Artificial Intelligence

The Show: virtual guests dodge barriers and maneuver through a simulated theme park.

The Science: using computer simulation models with artificial intelligence to virtually model a Disney theme park with Guests inside.

Animating with Markerless Motion Capture: a New System from Organic Motion

The Show: Audience members will be selected to spring cartoon characters to life by using their own gestures and movement. With no special equipment or suits, the person's full range of motions will be used to instantly animate cartoons on the screen.

The Science: 3D, cognitive, predictive tracking with real time graphic data

Tracking Turtles and Elephants

The Show: Scientists Ann Savage from Disney's Animal Kingdom tracks turtles and listens to elephants while a volunteer family agrees to be tracked throughout the festival grounds during the session. An animated Crush the Turtle from Disney-Pixar's Finding Nemo visits and talks to the audience.

The Science: tracking technology and real time computer animation.

Robotics: Lucky the Dinosaur

The Show: Lucky, a 20' long Audio-Animatronics Dinosaur, interacts with families, laughing, sneezing, and joking around

The Science: Disney's first free-roaming, independent robotic character

More Info: www.WorldScienceFestival.com

-- Posted May 29, 2008