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from Avatar Land Fauna Articleby:ChrisnéMyburg
It has been almost eight years since director James Cameron stunned the world with his spectacular
futuristic sci-fi epic: Avatar, but it has only been weeks since the long anticipated opening of Disney
Worlds': Avatar Land. For years "Imagineering" artists at Disney have been working to create the tropical
rainforest of Pandora in the heart of Animal Kingdom. A combination of real and created plants is used
to create an out of this world experience in an awe-inspiring land that celebrates the magnificent power
of nature, even if purely imagined. Eco tourists to Pandora can view engineered, exotic plants that come
to life with beautiful bioluminescence each night. A new, patented technology, called capacitive sensing,
is modelled after the biology of real plants to carry signals. This allows Disney to create interactive plants.
When users touch the leaf or stem of the plant, there is a reaction ­ whether visual, auditory, or
something else. Other technologies include smoke, smells and even water spouts triggered by
movement. Certain parts of the plant will react differently, creating a unique experience for each guest.
Responsive plants are one of the most intriguing elements of the Pandora world. Designers at Disney's
Avatar Land are attempting to invoke al the senses to create personalized experiences for all guests
(Elizabeth Alton: Entertainment Designer)
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