Did you know Disney actually has a huge R&D subsidiary? It’s called Walt Disney Imagineering, and they’ve come up with some pretty interesting technology. They’re currently working on a smart watch interface called EM-Sense that uses an electromagnetic signal to detect and learn what the user is interacting with.

Basic machine learning allows the watch to learn what different devices “feel” like on an electromagnetic scale. It’s capable of detecting things you would expect, like appliances, power tools, and even electronic devices — but it’s apparently sophisticated enough to tell when you’re touching a door handle (and which one) depending on the structure and EM feedback!

They better explain the technology in the follow video, and demonstrate a use case for it where the smart watch can lead you through activities while giving you tutorials on skills you may need. Sounds like the beginning of a real-life PipBoy!

A user on Reddit points out how this could be used for real-life “cookie tracking” at Disney’s theme parks:

Imagine if they implemented this into their MagicBands at the parks. The current MagicBands already have long range RFID that could track where everyone is at the parks. Add this to it and now they know what you’re doing and what you’re touching. “Hey, he picked up some Mickey ears on Main Street. Let’s send him a coupon for 10% off Mickey ears to see if they buy it” “Tourist 2175890 just ate a hamburger, lets offer them some desert at our ice cream cart” I can’t even begin to imagine how they could use all this data.

We guess the future really is here, huh…

[via r/futurology]