Spartan Echo News
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Lanney Smoot
Lanny Smoot recently made history as the first Disney Imagineer to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Smoot’s educational background in electrical engineering at Columbia University propelled him into a 45-year career as an inventor, engineer, researcher, and scientist (The Walt Disney Company, 2024).
In an interview with CNET (2022), Smoot shared that he was recruited from his job at Bell Communications Research for creating video-on-demand technology.
His ingenuity attracted the Disney corporation as they were building their technological edge in the film industry. Since then, he has worked with Disney for the last 25 years.
Smoot’s contributions have been instrumental to Disney’s success of bringing park attractions and theatrical storytelling to life.
Of the engineer’s 100 plus patents, 75 were created while he has worked at Disney (The Walt Disney Company, 2024).
Some of his creations include the realistic extendable light sabers and the 3D displays that function without glasses.
They also include some classic Disney EPCOT Park attractions like the Kim Possible: World Showcase Adventure, the Haunted Mansion’s holographic special effects, and the “interactive koi ponds found at the Crystal Lotus Restaurant and Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel” (The Walt Disney Company, 2024).
On January 17, 2024, the inventor announced his launch of the HoloTile floor,which is the first multi-person, omni-directional VR censored floor.
This technology provides limitless opportunities for theatrical performances and will enhance group experiences with virtual reality simulation (Disney, 2024).
The Themed Entertainment Association, which recognizes elite developers in the theme park industry, honored Lanny Smoot with “three Thea Awards from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA)” along with the 2020 TEA Master title (Disney Parks Blog, 2021).
Smoot will be adding his newest award to his collection, following the formal National Inventors Hall of Fame Induction ceremony that will be held in Washington D.C. on May 9, 2024 (The Walt Disney Company, 2024).
Lanny Smoot
(photo courtesy of the Walt Disney Company)
By Olivia Royster