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Disney

Disney Testing Other Wearable Devices As MagicBand
Watches

Disney Explores Using Guests’ Existing Wearables As Magic Bands

Disney Testing Other Wearable Devices As MagicBand

Disney has invested a tremendous amount of effort and money ($1 Billion) over the past 5 years to develop their Magic Band technology and ensure it is so compelling that the RFID bracelet would be the must have accessory when visiting a Disney theme park. In the two years that the band has been available to guests, more than 11 million of them have been used. The band is designed to make the process of visiting Disney as frictionless as possible, with the band serving as a FastPass entry, room key, park admission, and payment for food and merchandise. There are even restaurants where the tech allows the hostess to know who you are when you walk in and preordered food to automatically be brought to whichever table you seat yourself at.

But as wearable technology likely becomes more and more common place, why should guests have to wear two pieces of tech, especially when they have redundant internal circuitry? According to a report, this is a question that Disney hopes it can solve. The goal is to test whether a comparable all-inclusive experience could be provided through other wearable technology, such as our smartwatches. The concept would provide an even more seamless experience to park guests. Even though Disney is exploring feasibility, there is no timeline for the project – if it ever comes to fruition.

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Disney Fabric Printer Felt
Manufacturing

Disney Research Prototypes A New Fabric 3D Printer

Disney Fabric Printer Felt

Almost a year ago, we reported that Disney Research was hard at work on different 3D printer techniques for textiles. The entertainment company has continued on that mission and, together with Carnegie Mellon University, has announced a new advancement. The method relies on additive manufacturing to build a shape by stacking slices of thick felt. Similar to a standard 3D printer, a 3D object is loaded into the software and automatically broken down into slices. Instead of a hot extruder printing the object with plastic, a laser precisely cuts a sheet of felt, similar to a CNC machine. That slice is then placed on top of the previous layer on the build platform. The “printer head” then applies heat to the new layer of fabric to activate an adhesive on its underside. A combination of materials can be used and different cutting techniques can result in the final object being more flexible in one direction than the other. No word on what Disney is hoping to achieve with their research into textile printing, but it is clear that the company is taking it very seriously. Head past the break to see the printer in action:  

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Manufacturing

Disney Testing 3D Printing With Wool

3D Printed Wool Bear

Deep within the bowels of Disney Research, there is a team tired of 3D printing items with sharp corners.  They have developed a method of using wool and wool blend yarn to print CAD objects.  The printer uses a sewing machine style needle to gradually build an object.  The printing technique can also be used to layer around other items, such as electronics or stiffening mesh.  While you likely won’t be purchasing a custom printed Goofy from a cart in the Magic Kingdom anytime soon, the implications of this type of 3d printing are very exciting.  Click through to see a video of it in action.  

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