From the minds at Disney Research Pittsburgh comes the latest innovation that could bring a whole new immersible reality to the Disney Parks.

“Revel” which stands for reverse electrovibration was debuted by Disney Research Pittsburgh at the  2012 Siggraph computer graphics and interactive techniques conference in Los Angeles.  The technology uses reverse electrovibration to alter the sense of touch on objects without requiring the user to wear special gloves.  By sending a weak electrical signal through the user’s body, it creates an electrostatic field around the skin.  When the person then interacts with an object that is connected to the same ground as the signal generator (which can be anything from a tablet, to a map or poster or other object) an electrostatic force mimics the sensation of the texture programmed.

While it is still about a decade away from becoming a reality in the parks – imagine being able to go up to a Disney Parks map and touch the top of Mount Everest and it feels cold or touch a painting of a lake and it feels wet.  Believe it or not “Feelavision” is not too far off!

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Tara (409 Posts)

Whether Tara is helping people make a memory with a trip to Disney (or anywhere else for that matter)  or she is helping to write all the news and gossip to keep you in the know!  She also has a brand new facebook page for even more tidbits on Disney and travel, so visit her at Magical Memories and the Mouse.