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

Event Flyer (clip to make it large enough read)
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
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