Mixed reality could very well be the future of gaming and entertainment. Still, to take the next step beyond putting a dancing hot dog on your coffee table is going to take some ingenuity. The problem, you see, is you’re currently experiencing everything in a first-person POV. You’re staring at a screen or through some goggles at the world around you. Disney has stepped up to offer a fun alternative, the Magic Bench. By positioning the bench in front of a display, someone sitting on the bench can see themselves along with characters who hop up next to them. More, actuators underneath the Magic Bench vibrate and move to add a sort of tactile realism to the experience, a la a 4D theater. It’s far from the perfect augmented reality experience that will exist years from now, but it’s still pretty cool. No word yet on when and where you can experience the Magic Bench for yourself.
PARTNER
Huckberry’s Essential Holiday Gift Guide
Unzip your coat and have some mulled wine on the house—you’ve arrived at your final gifting destination: The Holiday Gift Guide. It’s like your friendly neighborhood one-stop holiday shop, except instead of balsa wood ornaments, ours is packed with thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. Future heirlooms, small-but-significant stocking stuffers, and gear for getting out there (or staying in)—are all right here. There’s no music playing in the background though, so you’ll just have to hum Bing Crosby while you click around instead.
