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Will Designing a Kinetic Movie Theater Chair Help the Experience?

By Rain Noe - June 28, 2011

in Object Culture

Is it possible to design a better moviegoing experience? I never thought so—I feel the concept of hundreds of strangers shuffling into a large room to stare at a screen and not interact is inherently flawed—but a company called D-Box does. They've designed a movie theater chair intended to immerse the viewer more deeply in the experience (of an action movie, anyway):

D-BOX Motion Code [technology] uses motion effects specifically programmed for each film, TV series or video game, which are sent to a motion generating system integrated within either a platform or a seat. The resulting motion is perfectly synchronized with all onscreen action, creating an unmatched realistic immersive experience.

Citizens have enjoyed spectacles at least since the times of the Romans. In terms of raw numbers, the modern-day spectacle of choice around the world is movies, but with 3D ticket prices finally declining it would seem we're getting all spectacled-out. You could also argue that with a spectacle, the content is the most important thing, and no amount of technology or design can cover up for a lack of depth in that department.

Spectacles were meant to provide excitement through visuals and sound. I suppose the next logical step is to extend that stimulation to our sense of touch (given that Smell-o-Vision has failed and Taste-o-Vision just sounds gross), but I'm not convinced it will take. This being America, of course, the market will decide.

Read Roger Ebert's take on the D-Box here.

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Ben D

13 years ago

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I wonder what it'll do during sex scenes.
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Ken J

13 years ago

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What!? The greatest aspect of the theater is experiencing it within the audience! Anything that can enhance or improve the social aspect of a movie would be better than immersion. This chair is a gimmick and a distraction (like 3D) and more apt for an amusement ride where "the experience" is the focus.

Would you use these seats in a Broadway play?
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