Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot has made history by becoming the second Walt Disney Company employee ever to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The first? Walt Disney himself, for his contributions to the development of the multiplane camera.
“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.”
Smoot, who has patented over 100 inventions, recently made a splash by creating a retractable lightsaber for Disney. Smoot’s current creation, the HoloTile Floor, is under development for immersive experiences, including VR. The world’s first multi-person ‘treadmill floor,’ the HoloTile Floor is made up of hundreds of small tiles that allow the user to walk without going anywhere. Watch the video above for a demonstration by Smoot himself.
