For Immediate Release
June 1, 1998

Cyberfin Immersive Dolphin Interaction Simulator Installed at the New Jersey State Aquarium

Fort Myers, FL) Aquathought Labs' Cyberfin, an immersive ride which simulates close contact with dolphins, premiered at the New Jersey State Aquarium on May 27, 1998. The Camden based aquarium is a flagship installation for the recently released Cyberfin system.

Originally designed as a research tool to study human-dolphin interaction, Cyberfin has been newly redesigned as a stand-alone entertainment venue with a potential audience at any location-based-entertainment facility, marine park, or aquarium. Cyberfin combines virtual reality technology with neurotechnology to extend rider's perception of the watery world of the dolphin, and to greatly accent sensory realism. Guests are immersed in the underwater world of dolphins and hopefully leave the attraction with a greater understanding of these intelligent aquatic neighbors.

The Liquid Crystal Floating Transducer Platform, housed in Cyberfin, drives the riders' entire body with high fidelity reproductions of dolphin sounds while approximating the feeling of floating in water. An echophone, which reproduces the mechanical skin to water coupling which occurs during an actual dolphin encounter, is employed to simulate the feeling of massive acoustic energy contained in dolphin echolocation. A collimated stereoscopic display provides 3D imagery which appears to float within the rider's visual field.

"Cyberfin adds another element of fun at the aquarium," says Public Relations Manager, Kimberley O'Neill. "This gives visitors a chance to participate in an interactive attraction which is very popular thus far, and we expect that popularity to continue." The New Jersey State Aquarium houses one of the world's largest open ocean fish tanks, and has over 600,000 visitors per year.

Aquathought Labs was founded in 1996 to develop and manufacture research and simulator technology.