You are in a familiar yet completely new environment. As you settle into the armchairs, the light gradually dims and, before you even know it, you are catapulted into another world. Vivid, brilliant images begin to dance around you, enveloping you in a kaleidoscope of color and sound. There is not a single screen in front of you, but a vast dome that surrounds you from every angle.
This is the magic of "dome" cinemas. Forget everything you thought you knew about cinema: you are about to have a different cinematic experience.
It took years
It was 1993, I was 18 and my scientific high school diploma was in my pocket. A trip to Paris as a coveted prize and an unusual walk. Where? At the City of Science in La Villette Park. A magical place, populated by robots that greeted you and dominated by a large dome, La Géode. This.
I remember watching one of the experimental films being screened in the theater (you could see a dog crouched on a lawn and it seemed to have him one meter away), I asked myself "when will it become a standard? Will we look at films this way in the future?"
30 years later the question is still there, just to anticipate who will comment on Facebook with things like "this technology already exists" (congratulations, I was waiting for you). The times, however, are becoming ripe for its real adoption.
A leap into the future of entertainment
While traditional cinemas have accustomed us to looking straight ahead, domed screens invite us to explore every corner of the room. These structures, which in recent years have sprung up in 50 countries around the world serving around 25 million spectators a year, represent the new frontier of entertainment.
Player like the American cosm they build halls with an area of 6039 square meters. But the real star is the dome itself, with an impressive 26,6 meters in diameter. Imagine being surrounded by a giant screen capable of transmitting high-definition images at the 8K level. Yes, you read that right, 8K.
According to representatives of cosm, this is the world's first display with these features. Made with special modules CX Display, is designed to display any type of image, be it high-quality video or generated 3D graphics. Even the dear, "old" IMAX they are catching up with "globe" rooms.
A space experience… without leaving the Earth
The astronaut Nicole Stott noted that the technology recreates the vision effect experienced by astronauts in space. In these domed cinemas, the picture is truly 'everywhere'. There is no need to direct seats towards a central stage. Spectators are free to move around, to choose the best perspective to fully immerse themselves in the show. We will have theaters with swivel chairs, and people with "film sickness" who won't have to overdo the snacks.
In the age of streaming services and giant TVs, you may be wondering, "Why should I go to a movie theater?" Today, from the comfort of our homes, we can watch almost anything. However, there is a big difference between "watching" and "living" a movie. And in any case, it's not just about movies: aquariums, planetariums, sporting events. The versatility of these screens will also allow you to experience events other than watching a "film", with unprecedented immersion.
Domed cinemas (and their followers that will follow) allow us to do this. They will be more and more widespread, and it will be really nice to see.
