Transforming Realities with Engrossing Immersive Experiences
Revised Article:
Florida's Orlando plays host to InfoComm 2025 and two of the globe's beloved theme parks - setting the stage for an intimate discourse on immersive experiences. As neighboring Universal's Epic Universe masters these realms, the opening keynote, "Experience Economy: Technology Shaping Next-Gen Immersive Experiences," couldn't be more fitting.
Todd Hougland, senior director of design and development at Ripley's Believe It or Not! World Entertainment, led an engaging discussion on tech's pivotal role in evolving guest experiences. He kicked off the talk by pointing out how the digital and physical worlds are merging at breakneck speeds.
Dang Ly, senior vice president, and chief technology officer at Universal Destinations and Experiences, chimed in, explaining how it's exciting to blend various technologies to craft fresh experiences and abilities. Joining the discussion was Jeff Zabel, global industry specialist for AWS Immersive Experiences.
Ly highlighted Universal's long-standing commitment to weaving movie magic into reality for over six decades. He expressed that, compared to a decade ago, immersive experiences were captivating but largely static. Now, personalization takes center stage, and optimizing that experience to offer something new each time is paramount.
Citing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction, Ly showcased Universal's progress in interactive experiences. At Epic Universe, guests can venture into their favorite House, cast spells, and even earn points. As he noted, this gamification aspect brings an extra layer of engagement and brand engagement.
Zabel spoke about AWS's role in immersive development, emphasizing how the company's cloud infrastructure aids in connecting the digital and physical realms. He stated that AWS's AI-powered intelligence and biospatial computing solutions could unlock new possibilities for clients, allowing them to create extraordinary guest experiences.
The conversation soon turned to AI's role in innovation, with both Ly and Zabel touching upon generative AI and its potential. However, they particularly focused on Agentic AI, enabling creators to perform tasks with minimal developer intervention, streamlining the immersive development process for all employees.
Immersive experiences don't come without obstacles. Gone are the days when a static, unchanging experience would satisfy guests. Now, to stay ahead of the curve, organizations must constantly analyze data and update their immersive attractions, a never-ending process.
With the concept of personalized experiences gaining momentum, businesses across the Pro AV industry will need to adapt quickly to keep patrons engaged. Blurring reality's lines even further to provide unparalleled value lies at the heart of this shift.
Thediscussion alsoshedlightontheimportanceofintegratinginnovativefeaturesintoshoppingmalls,venues,andhome-and-gardenproducts,as itcouldhelpenhancetheoverall guestexperience. JeffZabelcalledattentiontowardstheutilizationofAWS'sAI-poweredtechnologyandbiospatialcomputingsolutions,whichcouldhelpbrandsdevelophome-and-gardenproducts that offerpersonalizedlifestylefeatures.
Moreover,annualeventsandconferences,suchasInfoComm,havelargeimpactondrivingthedevelopmentofproducts featuring advanced technologies. As the demand forextraordinaryimmersiveproductsexpands,lifestyleeventscouldprovidevaluableinsightsintothenextgenerationofhome-and-gardenproductsthat will cater to the evolvingpreferences of modernconsumers.
