Presentation
SIGGRAPH 2026 Opening Session & SIGGRAPH 2026 Keynote: Lanny Smoot, Inventions, Innovations, and Imagination: Lanny Smoot’s Prolific Path
DescriptionOne of Disney’s most prolific inventors is taking the SIGGRAPH 2026 stage for an exciting presentation that will have attendees reflecting on the power of research, activating emerging technologies, and the value of cross-industry connections to drive technological advancements in one’s career.
Lanny Smoot will share some of the significant inventions and innovations he’s made during his long career in research and development, starting by working backward through his 27 years at Walt Disney Imagineering R&D and to his earlier 20-year career at the nation’s telecommunications giants: Bell Labs, Bellcore, SAIC, and Telcordia.
Along the way, Lanny will invite us into his lab and will describe the career lessons he’s learned — the importance of both research and new ideas and the necessity for collaboration between people with disparate talents. He will describe how he, and many engineers and scientists, are inspired to come into their fields and how young practitioners can find success.
As a long-time contributor to and friend of SIGGRAPH, Lanny will reflect on some of his professional contributions to the conference, including the Emerging Technologies systems he’s dreamed up: “The Electromagnetic Eye”, “Volumetric Display”, “The Interactive Holographic Zoetrope”, and the “Interactive Ping Pong Ball Zoetrope”.
Come for a story of meaningful advancements that revolutionized entertainment and communication, and be inspired by a unique career path built on imagination and taking technology to the next level.
Lanny Smoot will share some of the significant inventions and innovations he’s made during his long career in research and development, starting by working backward through his 27 years at Walt Disney Imagineering R&D and to his earlier 20-year career at the nation’s telecommunications giants: Bell Labs, Bellcore, SAIC, and Telcordia.
Along the way, Lanny will invite us into his lab and will describe the career lessons he’s learned — the importance of both research and new ideas and the necessity for collaboration between people with disparate talents. He will describe how he, and many engineers and scientists, are inspired to come into their fields and how young practitioners can find success.
As a long-time contributor to and friend of SIGGRAPH, Lanny will reflect on some of his professional contributions to the conference, including the Emerging Technologies systems he’s dreamed up: “The Electromagnetic Eye”, “Volumetric Display”, “The Interactive Holographic Zoetrope”, and the “Interactive Ping Pong Ball Zoetrope”.
Come for a story of meaningful advancements that revolutionized entertainment and communication, and be inspired by a unique career path built on imagination and taking technology to the next level.
Contributor
Event Type
Keynote Speaker
TimeMonday, 20 July 20269:00am - 10:30am PDT
LocationHall K
Arts & Design
Gaming & Interactive
New Technologies
Production & Animation
Research & Education
Full Conference Supporter
Full Conference
Experience
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