Disney's Acoustruments

I thought that this was pretty interesting and wanted to share it with you guys. It is a new thing from Disney Research. They are plastic/cardboard accessories that can control phones by sound. They work by tubes that have holes in them. It is kind of like how a flute works. They do not have to be just a hole though, they can also work through buttons, knobs, switches, wheels, and sliders. Anything that can alter sound would work. Here is a video of how they work:




They are also cheap to make, which means that if they are sold they will be cheap to buy. As you can see in the video, they have made an alarm clock and a toy car app. This is something I might buy if it were to ever go out on the market. What do you guys think of it?

Disney World Technology

I recently went to Disney World about a couple of weeks ago. I have been there about nine times before. It has been about 5 years since I went, so it was a lot of fun.

I have noticed that there is a lot of new technological advances in the parks. They have new wristbands that were not there 5 years ago. 

Magic Bands (Source)

They are used at all the parks and resorts as a universal key.

Scanning the wristbands (Source)

I am thinking that they have some kind of chip in them that must enable them to scan. When you go to the park, you also have to scan your finger and it recognizes it. I had scanned my thumb the first time I used it and then the second day we went to the park, I tried to use one of my other fingers not even realizing that I did and I had to scan it again. So, you have to make sure you scan the right finger.

They have also started to use the wristbands for the Fast Pass option. Before you had to insert your ticket into a machine and it would send you a Fast Pass. Now it is much easier, but you have to make Fast Pass reservations of the Disney app. This is kind of annoying, but you have to have it in order to do Fast Pass.

Scanning for a Fast Pass. (Source)

You can also use the wristbands to pay for items in the parks and resorts.

Wristband scanner for buying things (Source)

The feature that I was most impressed with was actually featured on one of the rides. There is a Star Wars ride that has been there for a while now but is now revamped and is in 3D. Here's a video of it if you want to watch:
 

Here's another ride where you design your own car called "Test Track." This one was also very different from the last time I went. They really revamped this ride.



So if you have never gone to Disney World, I would really suggest it because it's a lot of fun and their rides keep on getting better and better as time goes on.