http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/14/disney.math.ride/index.htmlSTORY HIGHLIGHTS
Disney opens an exhibit where kids create roller coasters -- and ride them
Theme parks are trying to make their rides more interactive, taking cues from gaming
The "Sum of All Thrills" ride opens Wednesday at Epcot Center in Florida
Kids design their rides on computers, ride them in a stationary robotic carriage
Any kid can dream up a roller coaster. But those who visit a new exhibit at Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park can actually take a ride on their fantasy creations.
Kids climb into this robotic carriage whose virtual-reality technology gives them a customized thrill ride.
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Epcot on Wednesday opened a new attraction called "Sum of All Thrills," which lets kids use computer tablets to design a virtual roller coaster, bobsled track or plane ride. After inputting their designs, kids climb into a robotic carriage that uses virtual-reality technology to help them experience the ride they've created.
"This is really the next generation -- where there's a lot more personalization involved" in the amusement-park experience, said Eric Goodman, Disney's lead project manager on the ride.
This make-your-own-ride approach appears to be a growing trend in the world of amusement parks and museums. Taking cues from the video game industry, park and ride designers have realized that people -- especially young ones -- want to interact with and even design their own thrill rides.
In addition to the new Epcot ride in Orlando, Florida, two Disney theme parks feature a ride called "Toy Story Mania," which lets riders shoot at targets as they roll down the track and, in doing so, shape their own ride experience. Another Disney attraction, CyberSpace Mountain, caters to adults and kids by letting them customize their own virtual ride from a menu of drops, loops and other features.
Universal Studios in Florida opened a roller coaster in August called the "Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit," which lets people create their own personal musical soundtrack for their ride.
KINJO NOTE: I LOVE LIVING IN ORLANDO! I am going today, to go ride it.