Cinionic, the Barco cinema joint venture, and Ultrahaptics, have launched a cutting-edge, turnkey visualization solution that engages patrons in an interactive, sensory experience right in the cinema lobby.

Millennials and “digital natives” are driving new trends and feedback-driven experiences. Cinionic and Ultrahaptics have collaborated on the design of innovative digital movie posters – embedded with mid-air haptics and motion tracking technologies – to empower exhibitors with a novel entertainment option for a media-savvy generation.

From observation to tactile immersive reality
Within Cinionic-enabled lobbies, moviegoers will experience a 3D mid-air “thrill ride” of sorts, engaging in game play with virtual tools and more, feeling sensations like static fields of electricity, bubbles and other phenomena without actually touching the surface of a screen. The possibilities for avatar-like gaming where patrons are actually “in the story” are limited only by the imaginations of the animation producers and the players themselves.

“With Ultrahaptics technology, we’ve succeeded in our quest to offer moviegoers a truly unique and memorable experience that they can’t replicate at home. As a bonus, these sensational, interactive posters have the potential to create a pathway to advertising revenue for exhibitors.”
Greg Patrick, Vice President Lobby Experience for Cinionic

Virtual interactivity comes to the cinema
Already widely used in many industries such as automotive, healthcare, and smart homes, Ultrahaptics technology not only elevates the user experience, but also provides a safe and extraordinary interface for interacting with content. Now, this technology is improving the way patrons experience digital content in the cinema, increasing consumer dwell time and driving additional revenue opportunities via merchandising and concession sales.

Partners in innovation
Under the arrangement, Cinionic provides the content creation and delivery expertise, derived from its exclusive relationships with studios, with Ultrahaptics supplying the technology platform and software to drive the user experience on the Barco Lobby Experience network.

“We are very excited about partnering with Cinionic, the leading-edge technical company in the cinema industry,” comments Alex Driskill-Smith, vice president and general manager of Ultrahaptics North America Inc. “Tactile feedback makes digital content more real and interactions more engaging. Mid-air haptics technology offers a natural and magical interface with movie content and our research indicates that this has the potential to add significant value to moviegoers and advertisers alike. It is a fantastic opportunity to transform the cinema lobby experience and make movie content and advertisements more engaging and memorable.”

Coming to a theater near you!
Currently in the final beta testing phase, these virtual touch, haptic movie posters will be implemented at test sites for user feedback and data gathering.

See it at CinemaCon
Visitors can experience Cinionic’s virtual touch display in action at CinemaCon, April 24-26 near the Milano and Neopolitan rooms at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

About Cinionic
Cinionic is transforming cinema, providing comprehensive WOW entertainment solutions to movie exhibitors across the globe. We help turn imagination into reality and ensure peace of mind for our customers by offering innovative services and flexible use of capital for a new era. Combining the technology expertise and heritage of our partners, Cinionic powers exceptional experiences across the entire theater to engage visitors at multiple touchpoints in their cinema journey.

Cinionic is a joint venture among Barco, Appotronics, and CFG, with offices in the United States, Belgium, Hong Kong and Mexico; the legal entity is planned to take effect mid-2018. Visit www.cinionic.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube for more info.

About Ultrahaptics
Ultrahaptics is the world’s leading mid-air haptics company. The company has developed a unique technology that enables users to receive tactile feedback without needing to wear or touch anything. The technology uses ultrasound to project sensations through the air and directly onto the user’s hands, enabling users to ‘feel’ virtual buttons, get tactile feedback for mid-air gestures, or interact with virtual objects. For more information about Ultrahaptics, please visit: http://www.ultrahaptics.com