New Walt Disney Holotiles let crowds walk around in VR while at home
VR still suffers from the fact that you can't truly walk or run around in virtual worlds, but that will change in time ...
Key takeaways
- The new technology was revealed as Smoot, a member of Walt Disney Imagineering’s research and development (R&D) division, is being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
- The first was Walt Disney, who was honoured posthumously in 2000 for the multiplane camera.
- Additionally, the HoloTile floor can be an insert in a theatrical stage.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2024) 'New Walt Disney Holotiles let crowds walk around in VR while at home', 311 Institute, 2 February. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/new-walt-disney-holotiles-let-crowds-walk-around-in-vr-while-at-home/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Years ago I wrote about, and showed off, some of the first moving floor concepts and boots that would let people walk and run around in Virtual Reality (VR) environments while staying stationary in their lounges at home, in something that’s akin to running on the spot but in this case not because you’d actually be running in VR – which sounds confusing. Anyway, fast forward about four years and now Walt Disney Imagineering has unveiled the ‘HoloTile’ floor for “omnidirectional VR experiences,” created by Disney Research fellow Lanny Smoot.
The new technology was revealed as Smoot, a member of Walt Disney Imagineering’s research and development (R&D) division, is being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
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Smoot is the first Disney Imagineer to receive this recognition and only the second person from the Walt Disney Company to be inducted. The first was Walt Disney, who was honoured posthumously in 2000 for the multiplane camera.
In a press release, Disney said the HoloTile floor is “the world’s first multi-person, omnidirectional, modular, expandable, treadmill floor.” And I want one … it looks like it beats a bog standard treadmill any day!
It allows any number of people to enjoy a shared VR experience, walk an unlimited distance in any direction, and never collide or walk off its surface. Additionally, the HoloTile floor can be an insert in a theatrical stage. This would allow performers to move and dance in new ways, or stage props and structures to move around or seemingly set themselves up.
Watch the new Holotiles in action
In a new Disney Parks video, Smoot explains: “It will automatically do whatever it needs to have me stay on the floor. What’s amazing about this is multiple people can be on it and all walking independently. They can walk in virtual reality and so many other things.”
He adds, “There’s so many applications for this type of technology.”
Smoot is credited with giving Madame Leota her ability to float in Disneyland‘s Haunted Mansion attraction and creating the extendable light saber used by Disney Live Entertainment.
“At Disney Experiences, we’re committed to world-class storytelling, creativity, and innovation in everything we do, and Lanny Smoot embodies every one of those ideals,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences.
“As Disney’s most prolific inventor, Lanny continues to amaze all of us with his artistic ingenuity, technical expertise, and endless imagination.”
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Why does this matter?
VR still suffers from the fact that you can't truly walk or run around in virtual worlds, but that will change in time ...
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- K2fhTqjcHfE youtu.be
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 2 February 2024. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2024). New Walt Disney Holotiles let crowds walk around in VR while at home. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/new-walt-disney-holotiles-let-crowds-walk-around-in-vr-while-at-home/
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