"Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times." - Niccolo Machiavelli
I am attending a very interesting and unique symposium over the next two days. The Telus World of Science Edmonton is hosting a symposium on a new initiative of theirs called the Digital Visualization Theatre. Imagine a standard dome theatre... classic planetarium... Now take that dome and tilt is slightly as though someone propped it up with a stick to catch some kind of small animal. Lastly bring in the Imax style seating and presto! Now you have a mash-up of the Imax and Dome theatre. Bring in some incredibly sophisticated projection equipment and you have the makings of some very unique viewing experiences.
When I first heard about this new initiative, I was a bit skeptical. I thought, "What? Isn't that something out of the carnival "scene-o-rama" with the cheesy speed demon movies that give everyone a cheap thrill of pseudo vertigo.
Then I saw a demo. This thing ain't no carnival cheap thrill. What I saw was one of the most sophisticated real-time visualization technologies combined with an effective screen to enhance the level of immersion for the viewers. A trip through the Universe was a "live" experience. The controller/guide was able to navigate through a real-time 3D space that included databases of stars based on the collective knowledge of the world community.
As the days of Imax become more commercial and entertainment based, and the analog planetarium equipment dies off, it is vital that Science Centres around the world find a new format for their presentations. I believe that this DVT solution is it. What must now happen is a major shift for content producers to learn and adapt to this new format. As digital media producers, we must find that blend of real-time (on-the-fly 3D models) and recorded media (pre-rendered animations, video, audio) to effectively capitalize on the power and potential of this new theatre technology.
