You need to know one of the true “wizards” of Disney’s Imagineering department. He’s made a real-life lightsaber and now he’s creating the technology that could put a Holodeck experience in every home. Find out more …
A dream job … or just a job of dreams?
Meet Lanny Smoot, one of the true “wizards” of Disney’s Imagineering department. The black box operation responsible for developing some of the most innovative entertainment experiences available to fans around the world named Smoot as the only “Research Fellow” in the history of the company. Find out why …
In this recent article in Wired Magazine, we learn about a Disney Imagineer who is building workable models of the futuristic gadgets and devices featured in Star Wars movies.
Lanny Smoot, the only research fellow in Disney’s history, and part of that company’s legendary Imageneering Department, has the task of making the science and technology behind so many of the gadgets we see in movies work in real life.
But maybe more interesting is his latest invention, a forerunner to a Holodeck-type experience similar to what we saw in Star Trek: The Next Generation. More recently known for building, working light sabers, he has now created, and Omni directional hollow tile floor, which adapts user movement in a virtual reality space. You can see a cool video of it here.
Disney research fellow and Imagineer, Lanny Smoot. (Orig. Photo by Simone Niamani Thompson)
Smoot’s interest in gadgets and inventions goes back about 58 years. That’s when his father brought some odds and ends home and showed his son how to wire a circuit. According to the article in WIRED, Smoot recalls: “once he got the bell to ring and the lamp to light, it lit up my entire career.”
The article continues:
There weren’t a lot of Black engineers to look up to in his neighborhood, but Smoot says he grew to admire characters like Mission: Impossible’s Barney Collier, who could put together the show’s gadgets and hold his own in hand-to-hand combat. In junior high, a counselor steered him toward Brooklyn Technical High School, and when it came time to apply to colleges, he got into every one he tried for, from MIT to Columbia. He just couldn’t pay for them.
But that’s just the first chapter in a truly fascinating career. I highly recommend reading this article about a most interesting individual.
A dream job … or just a job of dreams?
So long Leap Day, see you in 4 years (or so) …
Oh sure, it seems obvious. Every four years, we’ll just add an extra day to the calendar. Unless the year ends in a 00, then … well … read this post and you’ll know all you really need to know about “Leap Days.”
Gone but not forgotten – favorite automotive trends from the past
America (and much of the world) has had a century-long love affair with automobiles – of all shapes and sizes. But just like that person you dated back in high school, a second look few decades after the fact may result in a raised eyebrow or two.
Leaping back into the DAILY SPAM … and much more.
It’s well preserved in its own juices and fresh out of the can. The DAILY SPAM is back.
Celebrating the best underwater photography of the year
The online gallery showcasing the best entries of the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition is absolutely stunning. I’ve posted a few samples and a link to the online exhibit.
Nothing to watch on HULU? Not exactly …
Overwhelmed with options when it comes to finding a new series to stream or a movie to watch? If you’ve got a subscription to HULU, I might have a few suggestions …
How Godzilla found his voice
There’s something delightfully nostalgic about the unforgettably corny schreech of a roar coming from the original King of the Monsters (Godzilla) in the original 1954 production. Here’s the story behind the sound …
Additions for your “ttrbyd” list
What’s this? Just another one of those lists of things to do, read, watch, experience before you leave this mortal coil? Maybe, but it’s worth the read.
A little walk can take us miles
How many steps do you take in a day? Believe it or not, there are physiological, mental, and emotional benefits to literally “taking a hike” whether your wife asks you to or not.
Apple’s big bet on the MLS
How does Apple view its 10-year, $2B+ deal between Apple TV+ and Major League Soccer? It’s a way to reinvent sports for a streaming environment and get in on the ground floor of what could be the freshest source of “reality television” on the planet.
Animal stories … and much more.
Whether it’s a rampaging bear, a happy dog, or the return of the woolly rhino … it’s all good in today’s DAILY SPAM.
Still turning heads at 50 … happy birthday to THE EXORCIST.
Everything from celebrating fifty years of head-spinning thrills to the health benefits of ice cream. It’s all part of today’s nutritious meal of email delights.
Have you had your SPAM today?
Introducing a new column … Daily Spam is what I serve up after digging through the hundreds of emails I get every day … just so you don’t have to. I’ll provide links to interesting articles, videos, podcasts and more with no offers for winning lotto numbers, inheritances from African princes, or the latest NFTs. It’s free content worth every penny. Guaranteed.
You’ll never guess where I found the biggest obstacle to my recovery journey …
It turns out that the mind-body connection works both ways. Sometimes the biggest barrier keeping you from your success is located between your ears – which is why its important to understand how physical trauma can bring on depression and how your mental health affects your recovery.
The patient can go on vacation, but the therapy can’t.
Even when you intentionally “get away from it all” you don’t get away from it ALL. Blogger Mike Bawden explains how to manage travel, touring foreign countries, chasing grandchildren, and rehabbing an injured shoulder simultaneously.
