OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale has recently upgraded its lobby into a high-tech immersion chamber that simulates a journey under the sea. Visitors can now be virtually surrounded by digital projections of marine life on 23-foot walls. OdySea's founder and CEO, Amram Knishinsky, wanted guests "to feel like they’re in the middle of the deep blue sea the second they walk in," according to ABC15.
The new experience features a 360-degree digital projection mapping display with six different sequences, including animals like jellyfish, sharks, and penguins. The large projections required an exceptional level of detail, which was made possible by harnessing proprietary technology to extend even further the limits of resolution and animation detail. "When you’re animating at that scale, there’s no room for shortcuts," said Paul Washburn, Creative Director at Malvern Entertainment, as reported by KTAR. "Every frame, every shadow, every flick of movement has to hold up at 30 feet wide."
The immersive experience isn't limited just to the lobby; it extends into the OdySea Aquarium cafe, where a massive LED video wall displays serene visuals of different coastal scenes. Mesa-based CCS Presentation Systems handled the hefty task of installing this technologically demanding exhibition. "From the complex projection mapping and immersive audio to solving some tricky power challenges, we made sure every element worked exactly as promised," Paul Gallagher, an account executive at CCS Presentation Systems, told KTAR. "It’s a perfect example of how technology can truly become an experience."
