Installation of 3D Theatre System at Underwater World Langkawi

LANGKAWI, Jan 28, 2004 - Underwater World Langkawi (UWL) and Technology Innovation Resources Sdn. Bhd. (TIR) will be signing an agreement for the acquisition and installation of a 3D digital theatre system at Underwater World Langkawi for a total cost of RM 4.2 million, which is part of EDEN’s RM 30 million expansion at UWL.

The 3D theatre system will use virtual reality technology to portray large and small sea creatures electronically. Many of these creatures are not able to live and exist in aquariums. The system will enable visitors to view these spectacular creatures closely and in as real a situation as possible. This is the first time photo realistic virtual reality will be used to present sea creatures in an aquarium and it is also the first time 3D technology is being used in this manner. UWL thus will be the FIRST aquarium in Southeast Asia to be equipped with such technology. The 3D system capability will also provide a useful educational tool for those seeking knowledge and researching on marine life. This is in line with the commitments made by UWL to include research and education as part of its facilities.

Technology Innovation Resources has consulted experts in maritime wildlife and nature photography including the National Geographic, the ABC Natural History Unit and freelance marine photographers to ensure that what will be shown are as realistic as possible.

The installation of the 3D theatre system is expected to be completed in April and will be opened to the public during the second quarter of the year 2004 together with the newly expanded section of UWL. The new section will feature the Tropical, Temperate and Sub Antarctic Ecosystems. As a point of interest, the first batch of penguins from the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystem has already arrived at UWL.

The theatre, which can seat 200 viewers, will open with a show on the great white shark and will feature a specific marine life every six months. Viewers will actually experience being with the shark and other featured creatures in their natural habitat–an experience not easily attainable!

3D images of the sea creatures will be created using 4 different image projectors, each of which will be computer controlled. The computer will send different images simultaneously to each projector. The images on each projector will change up to 96 times in each second to produce the illusion of moving live sea creatures, floating in front of the audience. The theatre system is also equipped with a Surround Sound System to ensure that what the audience will be hearing will be as close as possible to the sound of the real world of the creatures they are seeing.

Since the show will be on for every 15 minutes, the computer system controlling the projectors must be exceptionally reliable. To meet the reliability standard and to ensure that the show runs on time, a special viewing software has been developed in Malaysia by Technology Innovation Resources.

This combination of advanced computer graphics, with high quality sound and image technology, allows the final result to be technically superior to anything that could be produced on PC. This technology has created interest and has received enquiries from all over the world.

This system has also been designed to show 2D movies and therefore, enable the theatre to be utilized as a normal cinema too. The idea of a 3D theatre doubling as a normal cinema ties in with the overall concept of turning the Boulevard (the front area of UWL) into a hive of activities in the evenings. Together with the Food and Beverage outlets, plus other street style entertainment and a night market it is hoped that visitors will be attracted to spend their evenings at the UWL.