Dean Zajonskowski hopes his pod, which provides people with a 3D movie experience, will be used for tourism and education purposes. Photo / Alan Gibson
It looks like a UFO and promises to take those who climb aboard to "any dimension".
Up to 10 people can sit in the 5m Zajon pod, which moves to the flow of movies shown on an elliptical screen inside.
The shiny, futuristic pod is being unveiled today
in Mt Maunganui and is, according to designer Dean Zajonskowski, a simulator with a difference.
"We move the whole craft whereas a lot of simulators just move the seat," he said. The pod sits on pneumatic rams, which are programmed to move according to the particular movie being screened.
The screen stretches above and below those watching the movie to give a 3D sense of being there - "there" being anywhere from a place to a part of the body or a plant.
The movie showing today takes viewers on an aerial journey through Paihia in the Bay of Islands, providing an example of footage the creators hope will make the Zajon pod marketable for tourism around the world.
But the pod is also intended for educational purposes, showing films about nature, science and the environment, and gaming options are being considered.
Mr Zajonskowski said the Zajon team, which includes his son Nigel, hopes to produce the pod in various sizes, from small, portable versions, which can be transported on a trailer, to large pods seating between 100 and 500 people for adventure parks.
