Radio-Frequency identification (RFID) tags have proved useful for things like tracking inventory, but they haven’t worked in games and other applications that require fast information processing — until now. A team of researchers from Disney and Carnegie Mellon University….
Archive for Disney Technology
Disney finds a way to identify devices and gadgets using electromagnetic signals
Researchers at Disney have come up with a method to identify different gadgets. In fact, the method is so precise that it can tell the difference between two different units of the same device.
Disney files patent for near instantaneous 3D printing
Disney Research has filed a patent for a 3D printing technology that uses high-intensity light to harden photo-sensitive resin in a single process, removing the need for layer-by-layer printing.
Disney will use Nokia’s virtual reality camera to film behind-the-scenes movie extras
Imagine if you could be on the set of the next Star Wars film. Imagine if you could watchas Star Wars: Episode VIII director Rian Johnson trains Daisy Ridley to (maybe) become a Jedi.
How Technological Advancements In Animation Force A Focus On Storytelling
John Lasseter, CCO of Pixar and Disney animation, once said; “The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art”. I agree with that, and I think it’s an appropriate way to think about how technological advancements have influenced artistic and creative decisions.
Is Disney Getting into the 3D Printing Business? They Just Filed for Three New Related Patents
When you hear Disney you usually think theme parks, big budget movies, animated fairy tales and merchandise licensing deals that just won’t quit. But Disney didn’t become one of the biggest and most successful companies on the planet just by selling mouse ears.
Disney researchers take depth cameras into the depths for high-accuracy 3-D capture
Disney Research scientists are adapting low-cost depth-sensing cameras for use underwater, with the goal of capturing 3-D models of marine flora and fauna with a high degree of accuracy.
The Walt Disney Company Announces Third Year Of Startup Accelerator Program
The Walt Disney Company announced today that it is accepting applications for its third Disney Accelerator, a program designed to accelerate the growth of startup companies from around the world. Ten exceptional startup companies will be selected for a three-month mentorship and investment program that will immerse them in the media and entertainment business. The program begins this summer and concludes with a Demo Day in October 2016. Applications are dueApril 10, 2016.
“The past two years of the Disney Accelerator have led to incredible innovation and success between The Walt Disney Company and our participating startups, helping to establish the Disney Accelerator as the premier media and entertainment accelerator,” said Kevin Mayer, Chief Strategy Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “We look forward to further shaping the future of our industry through this unique program.”
The Los Angeles-based program is open to both early and venture-backed technology startups with a vision for making an impact on the future of media and entertainment. The Disney Accelerator provides participating companies investment capital, access to co-working space at Disney’s creative campus and mentor support and guidance from top Disney executives, entrepreneurs, investors and other notable business leaders from the entertainment and technology communities.
Since the Disney Accelerator started in 2014, companies from across the United States, Europe and Asia have participated in building the future of media and entertainment with technologies as diverse as robotics, artificial intelligence, wearables, messaging and virtual reality, for example:
- Sphero, based in Boulder, Colorado, joined the Disney Accelerator in 2014 and developed the successful BB-8 droid in collaboration with Lucasfilm during the program. Sphero’s BB-8 sold out the day it was released and was dubbed the ‘Best Star Wars Toy Ever’ by Forbes. Since completing the program, Sphero raised an additional $45 million in venture capital, bringing their total financing to $80 million.
- Los Angeles based Naritiv, the first media company born on Snapchat, was created during the 2014 Disney Accelerator, and recently secured $3 million in Series A funding. Naritiv’s total network on Snapchat currently generates more than 16 billion views per month and has delivered more than one billion total branded views to date.
- EMOTIV, a 2015 Disney Accelerator company, is the developer of the Insight wireless headset, which measures brain fitness and emotions. EMOTIV’s Insight was recently featured on ABC Television’s ‘The Bachelor.’ With offices in Australia, Vietnam and San Francisco, EMOTIV has sold hardware and software to 70,000 developers and researchers in 120 countries and has already built a profitable business.
- StatMuse entered the Disney Accelerator in 2015 as a three-person team and launched a public beta of its interactive sports stats platform powered by natural language search on Demo Day. Now a team of 12, StatMuse is currently providing ESPN with statistical content for the NBA season and closed $10 million in Series A financing in January 2016.
For more information and to apply go to www.DisneyAccelerator.com.
Disney’s New Robot Can Climb Walls
Disney Research is developing a new generation of robots as a potential successor to the miniature smartphone-controlled Sphero BB-8 that you can buy today.
Disney’s FaceDirector changes facial expressions in movies
The new tool out of Disney Research’s labs could turn an ingénue’s semi-decent attempt into a finely nuanced performance.
