• Disney enters metaverse by patenting its technology for theme parks
  • The world’s largest media and theme park company was recently approved for a virtual world simulator patent.
  • The technology will help the company to offer headset-free augmented reality attractions at Disney theme parks.

The Walt Disney Company has received a patent for immersive technologies for amusement park rides during the last week of December. The technology called a “virtual-world simulator” would project 3D images and virtual effects onto physical spaces.

With this patented technology, Disney will be able to track mobile devices to create personalized 3D overlays on walls, spaces, and objects, eliminating the need for augmented reality (AR) devices.

When a person visits the theme park, he will be catered to with some virtual experience. For example, some may greet Mickey Mouse upon their arrival, while others may say hi to Cinderella, and so on. As such, the Metaverse patent would help the company to use digital content in real-world surroundings, avoiding the need for virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) head-mounted displays.

Disney was granted the patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in late December 2021, which the company had filed in July 2020.

How Does the Technology Works?

According to the patent filed by Disney, the virtual-world simulator has a computing protocol containing a hardware processor and memory, storing the software code. This technology tracks the users via a handheld device (ex: mobile phone) to complete its actions of projecting into physical spaces.

During Disney’s fourth-quarter earnings call, CEO Bob Chapek said, “The technology aligns with the brand’s goal to tell stories through a “three-dimensional canvas.”

“Our efforts to date are merely a prologue to a time when we’ll be able to connect the physical and digital worlds even more closely, allowing for storytelling without boundaries in our own Disney metaverse,” Chapek added.

Currently, the company has no plans to execute the simulator technology; however, the technology will help the company reach its goals for a Theme Park Metaverse.