At a recent conference in Hyderabad, India, I was given second billing to a robot. Not just any robot, mind you, but Sophia, the AI sensation from Hansen Robotics, which has recently been headlining events all over the world. Adding insult to injury, my presentation on creativity and human ingenuity was scheduled to follow directly after the robot. Given the electricity in the air as Sophie prepared to make her entrance, I felt terrified of being eclipsed by a machine. It’s an increasingly common terror lately. One recent study by Oxford and Yale University researchers suggests that by 2053, robots will beat us at translating languages, writing essays, and conducting surgeries. Worst of all, they expect all human jobs to be automated within the next 120 years. Disney is by no means averse to technology. In fact, one of the company’s newer high-tech solutions, the Magic Band, uses RFID technology to let guests reserve their favorite attractions and purchase … [Read more...] about My three decades at Disney taught me not to fear automation
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Disney World’s new Toy Story Land is like ‘playing in Andy’s back yard’
By Jan Tuckwood, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer The green Army men who run a tight ship inside Andy's Toy Box in the Toy Story movies got a power boost today for the dedication of Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios -- Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz Lightyear.''This is just amazing,'' Allen said as the new land was dedicated. ''Never in all my years with Toy Story did I think I'd actually be able to play in Andy's back yard.” Toy Story Land opens to the public on June 30. Jack Crowley Edwards, 5, of Palm Beach Gardens at Disney World's new Toy Story Land. (Kate Tuckwood-Taylor) Disney and Pixar collaborated on the big idea of tiny toys that's behind Toy Story Land.It's set up to look like Andy's back yard with his toys all scattered around. You become one of the toys...so you get to play on the cool roller coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, and spin on the Alien Swirling Saucers.What's cool is the scale: At the entrance to Slinky Dog Dash is the box that Rex, the toy … [Read more...] about Disney World’s new Toy Story Land is like ‘playing in Andy’s back yard’
Watch Disney’s amazingly agile robotic stunt double in action
Disney’s Imagineers have moved way past slightly terrifying animatronic presidents of the United States and even the awe-inspiring wonders of Toy Story Land. Now they’ve created a real-life, autonomous robot stunt double. While it sounds like a plot line from a reboot of The Rocketeer, as TechCrunch reports, this is very real and with real-world applications that could mean fewer injuries for brave stunt actors who risk their lives for action sequences in summer blockbusters. To make its animatronic Disney characters even more eerily life like, Disney’s Imagineering R&D department launched a new division of the company called Stuntronics with the hopes of building a stuntbot that could act like a superhero. And boy did they deliver: The humanoid robot can swing from a rope, strike cool poses, fix its trajectory while flying through the air, and land in a designated spot every single time. It also has on-board accelerometer and gyroscope arrays … [Read more...] about Watch Disney’s amazingly agile robotic stunt double in action
To Infinity: Toy Story Land opening at Disney in Florida
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Disney's Toy Story Land opens Saturday at Hollywood Studios just outside Orlando. The 11-acre land based on the "Toy Story" movies gives everyone a chance to be an honorary toy while exploring the whimsical world of Andy's backyard. For children of the mid-1990s, it offers the imaginary world they grew up in. Favorite characters including Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Mr. Potato Head and the Green Army Patrol roam the land, interacting with guests. Toy Story Land features two new rides: Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers. They join the Toy Story Mania ride that has been a popular attraction since 2008. Toy Story Land continues Disney's tradition of bringing movies to life. Pandora-The World of Avatar opened in 2017 and Star Wars Land opens next year. … [Read more...] about To Infinity: Toy Story Land opening at Disney in Florida
New app offers interactive experiences for Disney guests
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — With the opening of Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studies, Walt Disney World is also offering guests a new mobile app called Play Disney Parks. The app debuts Saturday, the same day that Toy Story Land opens to the public. Entertainment options include interactive themed games, Disney trivia, digital achievements and music playlists. Scott Andress is vice president of Digital Guest Experience for Disney. He explains that the app is designed to give people an alternative to a "heads down" cellphone experience. The idea is to turn wait times for rides into engaging entertainment for families and friends. It is available for iOS and Android platforms. It is free to download and use. The app can be used at the four parks just outside Orlando and two at Disneyland Resort. … [Read more...] about New app offers interactive experiences for Disney guests