Universal Destinations & Experiences' think tank has applied for a patent of a technology that will raise the bar on theme park ride augmented reality.
The patent, dubbed "Augmented Reality System for an Amusement Ride," introduces a system with facial and skeletal recognition to detect a guest's presence and add augmented-reality components to that image.
"The augmented-reality animations could include graphics or animations overlaid on a captured image or animation of the guest such that the graphics or animation appear to be a part of the guest," said the patent. "Such graphics or animations could include replacing a guest's facial features with animated facial features (e.g., replacing the guest's nose and eyes with an animal's nose and eyes), replacing the guest's head with an animated head, replacing the guest's body with an animated body, other modifications to the captured image or animation of the guest."
Images with the patent show a person posing in front of a screen with a reflection that appears as if the guest is wearing clown attire and make-up.
How Universal could use the technology at its Orlando parks was not included, but it's likely to be a technology that can appear in most areas helping depict guests turn into the characters of the land they are visiting.
Executives with Universal were not immediately available for comment.
However, patent technology is often another way Universal is trying to elevate the theme park guest experience.
Meanwhile, here's a look at Universal's other recently filed patent applications:
- Interactive Device of an Attraction System: A wearable head display that includes an interactive component with a projector to show images, plus a microphone and a display.
- Choreographed Ride Systems and Methods: A free-moving carousel ride system that has more mobility vertically and horizontally — adding a twist to traditional carousel-style attractions.
- Dark Ride Tower Systems Having Stationary and Adaptable Rooms: A tower-like ride system with two levels. The first level is a stationary room, and the second level can change configurations.
- System and Method for Tracking a Passive Wand and Actuating an Effect Based on a Detected Wand Path: This allows for a user with a handheld object such as a wand to use specific gestures to activate certain effects in their environment.
- Interactive Animated Character Head Systems and Methods: A system that allows an animated head on a character to respond to pre-determined signals from an interaction between the character head and the guest.
Universal Orlando Resort — owned and operated by Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA) — is among Central Florida's top attractions, per Orlando Business Journal research. Universal Orlando typically draws a combined 21 million-plus annual Orlando visitors to its Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida theme parks, as well as its Volcano Bay water park.
Universal also owns the CityWalk dining/shopping/entertainment complex, several area hotels and more than 700 acres for development off of Universal Boulevard, where it is building its Epic Universe theme park. That new $1 billion park is expected to create up to 14,000 new theme park jobs along with thousands of local construction and vendor opportunities.
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