Otronicon returns to Orlando Science Center for a look at locally produced interactive technology
For the 10th year in a row, multiple industry partners will join the Orlando Science Center to celebrate interactive technology during Otronicon.
Partners including Lockheed Martin, EA Sports, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida Hospital for Children and University of Central Florida will demonstrate Orlando’s impact on the world of entertainment, simulation, education, training, health care and more Jan. 16 through 19, 2015.
Otronicon is the Science Center’s largest annual event with an average of 3,000 visitors each day — more than 12,000 guests for all four days. The experience has the opportunity to inspire a child’s interest in science and tech careers through the appeal of video games, interactive technology and virtual reality.
There are classes in video game creation as well as exclusive chances to experience simulators to examine how video game technology is being used in the military, medical, sports and entertainment industries as a training and design tool. Plus, connect with local simulation companies to learn about exciting careers in the field.
The event promotes the concept of “made in Orlando, played in Orlando” with many chances to interact with the creative professionals that make the games you enjoy and discover the growing career opportunities in your own backyard.
BRAND NEW TO OTRONICON V.10
Giving a whole meaning to “shock rock,” performance rock group ArcAttack graces the stage with guitars, drums and singing Tesla coils. Watch this band rock out as sparks emanate from the coils in conjunction with the music. The jam session produces what looks like lightning and interacts with a Faraday cage that guests can stand safely inside during the show. ArcAttack has appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” at SXSW in Austin and designed the Tesla coils used in an endurance stunt by illusionist David Blaine in 2012.
Orlando Science Center collaborated with Indienomicon creator Kunal Patel to present Otronicon’s first-ever Indie Game Developer Showcase. Discover the burgeoning indie game community as nearly a dozen teams bring their games for you to play. Meet the entrepreneurs that are changing the tech industry landscape in Orlando.
If you’ve yet to experience the Oculus Rift, local company Engineering & Computer Simulations enables you to embody a worker on an offshore oil rig in a dangerous situation courtesy of the virtual reality head-mounted display. And Talon Simulations puts a spin on the classic flight simulator with the addition of an Oculus Rift headset.
PAST FAVORITES RETURN
EA Sports, the brand responsible for the best-selling Madden NFL and FIFA series, returns to Otronicon for the fifth straight year and will spotlight the many aspects of game development. Also returning is Walt Disney World Resort, which will showcase how they use simulation to design rides and attractions. Lockheed Martin, a partner since the first Otronicon in 2006, is exhibiting six flight simulators. And Florida Hospital for Children invites you to operate the da Vinci Xi Surgical System, a technological leap forward over previous models of the robotic-assisted surgery system.
Game developers will have just over 30 hours to create a game from scratch in the 2nd annual Otronicon Game Jam presented by the UCF School of Visual Arts and Design. In this contest, judges will award a team whose game best utilizes Intel RealSense Technology and demonstrates the immersive nature of the simulation tools. Games created during the jam will be posted on the Otronicon website and each member of the winning team will receive their own Intel RealSense development kit.
COST, HOURS & MORE INFO
Admission to Otronicon is $19 for adults and $13 for youth (ages 3-11). Science Center members can experience Otronicon for free.
Otronicon is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Jan. 16 and Jan. 17; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 18 and Jan. 19.
For more information, call 407-514-2000 or visit www.osc.org and otronicon.org.
Watch the Jan. 23, 2014 episode of The Attractions Show for a look inside last year’s Otronicon:
