DisneyVision - Imagineering VR Lab EPCOT '94

The DisneyVision / Imagineering lab that was at EPCOT in 1994...
A bit of history on the lab: (Geeking-out a bit here!)

The DisneyVision Lab was joint venture between Disney Imagineering and Silicon Graphics Computer Systems (AKA: SGI). Disney used the lab to develop their VR app for DisneyQuest and SGI used the opportunity to write extensions to their IRIS Performer package and gather data for the next generation of graphics hardware. The SGI graphics hardware used a custom board called "Tri-clops"...as far as I know SGI only produced 5 of them. The Tri-clops board allowed the output of the three graphics pipes in the SGI Onyx systems to be summed into one full rez HDTV (keep in mind this was 1994!), stereo (120Hz) display. Due to the rez, pixel depth and refresh rate of the HMD (Head Mounted Display), motion sickness was a problem and barrels were added to show for to accommodate sick guests. Also, the temperature of the lab was kept quite low to help minimumize the effects the motion had on guests...a practice that is still used today in DisneyQuest...well, the barrels are not in use, but the temp is quite chilly. Disney and SGI displayed DisneyVision at the 1994 Siggraph show in Orlando.

The current VR attraction @ DisneyQuest is (as 07/98) is MUCH lower quality than that of the EPCOT lab. Where EPCOT was running one SGI Onyx with three graphics pipes summed into one pod, the DisneyQuest attraction has one Onyx2 with one graphics pipe running 4 pods. The DQ attraction removed the Mickey Mouse hands from the edge of the magic carpet...sad to see that touch did not make it into the attraction.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• SGI
• Silicon
• Graphics

[Maestrojosh87]

That's the Future World background music created in 1994.

[CyberstormX]

I really like the video you put together. I was at Epcot back when this attraction was open and got to be one of the guys sent up on stage. Love it.

I remember being told no to wander too far outside the city though. I guess that was before the days of invisible walls to keep you in.

The space this attraction was at, is being used for a museum of the history of Epcot, or was as of May '07.

[xevious2501]

Funny finding this.. The same year D.I visited RSAD and invited a bunch of us to come and try this out. it was fantastic and much better than the version they placed in Downtown disney. The big thing was the HMD. unlike those you find on the commecial market these really covered your field of view REALLy making you feel like you were flying! seriously. i though the bikelike chair was moving and it wasnt.. The hmd were stereoscopic as well. This is the next thing in games.

[allenhuffman]

What a neat find. I was talking about this last year, and didn't even think of searching YouTube for any "proof" it existed. Good deal. Thanks for posting.

[Backdrop1]

whats the song in the beginning?

[cybercow222]

here is clearly described how (and why) sgi was much ahead of its time; i hope will come there again ... nice vid.

[CorporalDanLives]

That looks freaking amazing for 1994