Building the structure was the first step. The dome was 23 feet high and 44 feet in diameter. It was built in layers, then lifted to rest on top of an eight-foot-high riser and covered with blackout fabric.

Inside, the dome was lined with a projection screen made from 30 triangular segments. Obscura Digital’s proprietary calibration software took high-resolution film of clouds and skies and mapped it to the dome screen. A massive surround-sound system filled with dome with dimensional sound effects that synced up with the video-for example, when a storm cloud that visually moved from one side of the dome to the other, the sound also moved with it.

Inside, the dome was lined with a projection screen made from 30 triangular segments. Obscura Digital’s proprietary calibration software took high-resolution film of clouds and skies and mapped it to the dome screen. A massive surround-sound system filled with dome with dimensional sound effects that synced up with the video-for example, when a storm cloud that visually moved from one side of the dome to the other, the sound also moved with it.

People’s reactions to the SKYdome experience was overwhelmingly positive. Some tried to figure out how the projections were being applied to the car; others appreciated the ceiling projections and the surround sound system. But everyone recognized that the exhibit, which was an immersive experience rather than the usual static display, was a more modern way of introducing a car. They left with positive feelings toward the SKY and a sense that Saturn is a company ready to take on the future.

The Saturn SKYdome
Date: June 24th – 26th, 2005
Place: WIRED NextFest, Chicago, IL
https://www.saturn.com/skydome/