IPM’s Judith Rubin & Martin Palicki sat down with Dynamic Attractions leaders Cyndi Emerick, Mike Haimson, and George Walker to talk about the company’s future plans and technology implementation plans.
IPM: What’s next for Dynamic Attractions?
George Walker: We are moving forward with our two-pronged approach. First, we will continue with our strategy on our unlimited attractions services. We will continue our focus on Eastern Europe and Asia. We are not here to compete with the industry, but are here to collaborate with the industry.
Secondly, we are looking to move into some revenue share joint ventures. We are currently seeking out initial partners and locations where we can provide more service and manage the expectations of the project beyond opening day.
IPM: What new technologies are you working with?
Mike Haimson: We use our new Attraction Development Center here in Orlando to create mock-ups for our customers, and use a variety of technologies to help make that happen [such as the Holovis RideView and VR Cave environment].
We are also focusing on ways for guests to interact with the ride, whether that’s moving the ride vehicle or interacting with one another while on the attraction. We are really looking at how to utilize technology to enhance multiple levels of social dynamics. It’s sort of like combining technology and psychology, and it’s one of the key pieces necessary to connect VR headsets with other ride systems.
IPM: What does that actually look like?
Mike Haimson: Play testing is really important to us. The goal is to have an instantly usable system – one that is intuitive.
Cindy Emerick: Interactivity is not getting guests to their phone. We are looking to integrate the technology into the whole ride system. We also understand the importance of gaming. Earning status in a game is critical and it makes an experience easily repeatable.
We also constantly ensure that attractions are still accessible and enjoyable for those who don’t want to be interactive, or even go on the ride. We call that the “Grandparent Kiosk,” where a non-riding family member can still take part in the experience.
George Walker: The reality is that guests have changed. We are in the generation of the smart phone. This group likes to participate and publish. Our job is to figure out how to help them participate and publish safely and quickly. We also are delving in to what the attractions of tomorrow will look like for the next generation.