At IAAPA, Charles Read caught up with Steve Alcorn and Peter Ed to chat about the past and future of the Themed Entertainment Industry. Results? A fun and insightful article from two industry veterans.
Read the interview here: Theme Park Reflections: A Conversation with Steve Alcorn and Peter Ed 
After 2 years of slumming with the iPhone 3GS, I finally got an iPhone 4S. Much has been made about how the differences between the 4 and the 4S are fairly minor (although to a 3GS’er like myself, the form factor really is beautiful). But the big difference in Siri.
Siri is Apple’s new voice command application. Based on a DARPA-funded technology that Apple acquired, the power of Siri is in its ability to do context-specific voice processing. Ask “her” to remind you about something and she puts a note to pop up a reminder (including being smart enough to set a GPS-based trigger to remind you before you leave a location). You can ask to play a song by artist or title. You can even joke around with Siri (try searching for all of the funny things Siri says – they are hilarious!)
The SATE 2011 Technology panel was a great success. Special thanks to Dave Cobb from Thinkwell, Mark Gilicinski from MobileXpeditions and Rick Borovoy from MIT Media Lab/Google.
The panel discussed how we as designers can utilize technology to create a unique, personalized experience in a themed environment instead of competing with iZombies. We all know who the iZombies are (I’m one of them!). They are the people walking down the street (or in a theme park) texting, tweeting and totally unaware of everything around them. This is the growing audience we need to embrace. Our options are either to design around them or to create more compelling experiences that use technologies like mobile, RFID, etc. to engage them in the overall experience.
As anyone who has visited a theme park in the past few years has recognized, cell phones and other mobile devices are everywhere. It’s impossible to walk around in a museum, theme park or other entertainment venue without running into someone who is looking down at their phone (or more likely, they are running into you – literally!)
So as designers of themed spaces and technology, what are we supposed to do about it? Do we combat the wave of mobile devices in our venues – they are destroying the experience after all. Or do we simply need to take a fresh look at how people are using their devices and figure out how they can add to the experience?
Press Release on our 25th Anniversary:
Orlando (March, 2011) – Alcorn McBride, Inc., the leading manufacturer of show control, audio and video equipment for the theme-park industry, is celebrating its 25th anniversary, an important milestone for a technology company serving the world’s top theme parks, museums and systems integrators. To mark the occasion the company has launched an improved website (www.alcorn.com) with easier navigation and more offerings, including the latest free software downloads and firmware upgrades for customers.
Founded in 1986 by CEO Steve Alcorn who maintains a hands-on leadership role in the company, Alcorn McBride has thrived thanks to innovative product design, longevity among its staff members and unparalleled customer service.
Alcorn McBride Inc. is sponsoring the January TEA East event with Ripley’s. Tommy Bridges is leading the charge for this private event to be held on Wednesday January 19th. Believe it or not, this is the first TEA event held at Ripley’s! We are expecting a great turnout for the fun evening planned. Interested in learning more about the TEA? Click HERE.
IAPPA 2010 was a fun and productive event. A bit smaller than I remember from last year, but the industry greats were still all there. On the last day of the show, I had time to walk around, catch up with other exhibitors, and try out some of the latest things on the show floor. 
Although I am not in the market to buy mass amounts of body glitter, semi-permanent tattoos, and hundreds of over-sized stuffed animals, it was certainly fun to participate in these theme park activities without waiting!
Steve's new book featured in the IAAPA store
Audio, video, lighting, show control, and chips on a stick! That means one thing-it’s IAAPA time! We are exhibiting at booth 465 near the TEA Booth, BRC, Electrosonic, Jack Rouse, and Roto Studios. Every company has a great looking booth, including ours I might add. So far people are thrilled with our Touch for iPad app (available in Dec). We had several clients stop in their tracks when they saw our popular software on the iPad. This offers another level of flexibility to our Pro Line of show controllers. I actually had one client say “Really? YAY!” Nice job Ryan (our engineer on this project). Our Digital Binloop HD is front and center and video seems to be the biggest generator of booth traffic so far.
Steve just released a new book entitled “Theme Park Design: Behind the Scenes with an Engineer.” Aimed at Theme Park enthusiasts, it provides a behind the scenes look at what goes into fan favorite attractions. Steve’s narrative is often laugh-out-loud funny as it describes the crazy, fast-paced world of theme park design. “Theme Park Design” explores ride control, mechanics, audio, video, lighting, special effects, animated figures, art direction, and much more. It’s available on Amazon. Just click here: Amazon.com.
The TEA SATE Conference is just around the corner. If you are coming to Orlando for the event, be sure to stop by the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel on the 29th at 5:30pm. Alcorn McBride and VOA will be hosting the Tommy Bridges Jazz Quartet. Tommy is an extremely talented musician and a valued player on the Alcorn McBride Team. 
Alcorn McBride Inc. is the leading manufacturer of show control, audio and video equipment for the themed entertainment industry.