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D-Box Technologies

D-BOX Technologies Inc. (informally known simply as DBOX) is a Canadian haptic motion technology company based in Longueuil, Quebec. The company designs and manufactures motion and haptic systems for entertainment, simulation, and training industries. Combining haptic technology with actuators provides physical sensations in a virtual setting.[2] As of July 2019, D-BOX seats were located at over 700 movie screens in 40 countries.

The company was founded in 1998. Naveen Prasad is the company's President and CEO.[1]

History

D-BOX was originally founded in 1998 as a manufacturer of powerful subwoofers.[3] Michel Jacques was the company's president and CEO.[3] The company noticed customers were buying multiple subwoofers to place around seats to mimic a motion effect.[3] The company decided to shift its focus to motion technology, and in 2001 released its first generation of D-BOX motion seating systems. The company initially focused on the theatrical-exhibition market rather than home consumers, due to the high cost of a single chair.[3]

In August 2005, Claude McMaster became the company's President and CEO.[4]

In 2009, Nikki Rocco, president of distribution at Universal Pictures, asked D-BOX to use its motion technology for the 2009 film Fast & Furious. The project was successful, and was considered a company milestone.[3] That year, the company reached an agreement with Canadian exhibitor Cineplex Entertainment to install D-BOX seats at its locations, with the first opening in July 2009.[3]

In October 2018, the company entered the sports simulation market, and displayed a Formula 1 simulator at a sports conference in London.[5]

In November, Variety announced that D-BOX was working to develop an amusement park ride based on Ubisoft's popular Rabbids title.[6]

In May 2019, the company announced that its simulation technology was being used by Monaco-based company RS Simulation in its Sector One racing simulator.[7]

By July 2019, D-BOX seats were located at over 700 screens in 40 countries.[3] In August, the company announced that Australian and New Zealand-based company Hoyts was installing D-BOX seats in its theaters.[8][9] In October, the company announced it was partnering with India-based film chain PVR Cinemas to install its seats in Indian cinemas, and that the 2019 Indian action film War would incorporate the motion technology coding.[10]

On April 1, 2020, the company announced that Sébastien Mailhot was taking on the role of President and CEO. In September, British simulation company Cranfield Simulations announced a $170,000 home Formula 1 simulator using D-BOX's suspension platform.[11] In November, the company announced a lower cost chair designed for the home entertainment market.[12] In December, the company announced it was working with gaming hardware manufacturer Cooler Master to produce a gaming chair featuring full-body haptic technology.[13]

In December 2022, D-BOX collaborated with simulation company RSEAT to develop the HF-L4, a sim racing and theatre system based on D-BOX's G5 haptic motion system.[14]

Products and services

D-BOX produces haptic (motion) effects programmed for visual and musical content, which are sent to a motion system integrated either within a platform, a seat, or various types of equipment. Sounds and action are hand-encoded to link to motion effects.[3] Its technology is used for various industries including movie theaters, sim racing, gaming, home entertainment, commercial training and simulation; and attractions and theme parks.[5]

Movie theaters

The first feature film to have been encoded with D-BOX was Fast & Furious; multiple D-BOX seats were installed at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood for the premiere, as well as a cinema in Surprise, Arizona.[3] As of January 2025, D-BOX estimated that its seats were installed in over 1,000 cinemas worldwide.[15]

In digital cinema, D-BOX codes for motion control are stored in the Digital Cinema Package for the film. Control data is encoded in a monoaural WAV file on Sound Track channel 13, labelled as "Motion Data".[16] Motion Data tracks are unencrypted and not watermarked.[17]

Sim racing

D-BOX's technology is used by a variety of manufacturers to develop simulation technology.[14][18][19] D-BOX's haptic system is the only official haptic technology licensed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), and the company is also the Official Haptic Partner of eNASCAR.[20]

Gaming

D-BOX partners with gaming companies such as Ubisoft to license its technology for video games, including Assassin's Creed Valhalla.[21][22] The company also partners with haptic gaming chair manufacturers such as Cooler Master.[23]

Home entertainment

D-BOX Technologies first introduced its motion generating systems in 2001 to the home theater, Sim racing, Esports and PC gaming markets. The D-BOX system can be integrated within single seats or full with many seats theaters.[24] For existing seating, motion can be added using a D-BOX Motion Platform.[25]

Commercial simulation and training

D-BOX technology is used for simulation and training by companies including heavy equipment companies Caterpillar and John Deere, and commercial simulation company CM Labs Simulations.[26] The company's motion and haptic equipment is also installed in helicopter flight simulators at the American base of Fort Novosel in Alabama (formerly Fort Rucker), as part of simulators provided by the Australian company Ryan Aerospace, and the American company Precision Flight Controls.[27]

Attractions and theme parks

D-BOX also provides technology to operators of immersive attractions and theme parks. Projects include SpongeBob VR, created in partnership with virtual reality attraction manufacturer MajorMega and VR studio Creative Works,[28] MajorMega's HyperDeck VR attraction,[29] and the Asterix-themed ride Attention Menhir! at French theme park Parc Astérix.[30]

Exhibitors

Exhibitors installing D-BOX equipment in their theaters include:

Studios

D-BOX works with movie studios including:

Operations

D-BOX is headquartered in Longueuil, Canada, and has satellite offices in Beijing and Los Angeles.[35] Naveen Prasad is the company's President and CEO.[12] The company reportedly has 90 employees.[36]

External links

References

  1. Sebastien Mailhot Bloomberg, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  2. John Munroe. How haptic technology strengthens the ties between sim racing and motorsport autosport.com, July 15, 2022, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  3. A Moving Experience: D-BOX Celebrates 10 Years in the Cinema Business Box Office Pro, 2019-07-23, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  4. D-Box appoints a new CEO theglobeandmail.com, August 19, 2005, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  5. Sports industry gears up for virtual reality revolution Egypt Today, 2018-10-12, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  6. Ubisoft's Rabbids Get 4D Lightgun Amusement Park Ride Variety, 2018-11-14, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  7. Angela Harmantas. Racing simulator powered by D-Box Technologies launches at F1 Grand Prix in Monaco proactiveinvestors.co.uk, May 27, 2019, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  8. Garry Maddox. Cinema with a new dimension Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media/Nine Entertainment Co., 2011-10-07, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  9. Hoyts introduces D-BOX seats to add motion to the cinema experience Tech Guide, retrieved 2019-09-21^
  10. D-Box Technologies partners up with PVR Ltd. to bring motion seats to cinemas in India Digit, 2019-10-04, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  11. Cranfield's Full Motion + G-Force Rig Is the Ultimate Formula 1 Simulator Hypebeast, 2020-08-31, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  12. D-Box turns to home entertainment En24 News, 2020-11-26, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  13. D-BOX Technologies & Cooler Master partner to create immersive haptic gaming chair Blooloop, 2020-12-14, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  14. Justin Melillo. D-BOX Technologies & Cooler Master partner to create immersive haptic gaming chair traxion.gg, December 21, 2022, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  15. Boxoffice Staff. D-BOX Reaches 1,000 Cinema Screens Worldwide Boxoffice Pro, 2025-01-28, retrieved 2025-09-27^
  16. Recommended Guidelines for Digital Cinema Source and DCP Content Delivery Deluxe Technicolor Digital Cinema, 2018-03-29, retrieved 2023-11-14^
  17. D-Cinema Packaging — SMPTE DCP Bv2.1 Application Profile The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, 18 May 2020, retrieved 14 November 2023^
  18. Richard Dufour. D-Box s'allie avec Mercedes La Presse, January 17, 2023, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  19. John Ballem. D-BOX Technologies (TSX:DBO) and SIMTAG are reinventing the Virtual Sim Racing experience themarketherald.com, February 12, 2021, retrieved April 6, 2023^
  20. Shoran Devi. D-BOX (TSX:DBO) launches high-fidelity haptic system themarketherald.ca, August 17, 2022, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  21. Khyathi Dalal. D-BOX Technologies, Ubisoft in partnership; leveraging video gaming industry boom seekingalpha.com, August 13, 2020, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  22. Charlotte Coates. D-BOX Technologies announces compatibility of its haptic technology with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Valhalla blooloop.com, November 12, 2020, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  23. D-BOX And Cooler Master Present The Motion 1 Gaming Chair bsimracing.com, July 14, 2021, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  24. Amadea: 10 facts about Lürssen's 106m superyacht boatinternational.com.com, November 26, 2021, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  25. D-Box SRP-230 Motion Platform and Standalone Series IV-BD Motion Controller Sound and Vision, 2012-05-24, retrieved 2021-01-05^
  26. Benefits of Training Operators With Simulators GX Contractor, 2017-10-29, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  27. Des sièges de D-Box pour l'entraînement de pilotes américains journaldequebec.com, November 12, 2019, retrieved April 6, 2023^
  28. Kevin Williams. Theme park and theatrical VR concepts find new outlets vendingtimes.com, February 21, 2022, retrieved April 6, 2023^
  29. Charlotte Coates. D-BOX motion technology powers MajorMega's VR attraction, Hyperdeck blooloop.com, November 4, 2019, retrieved April 6, 2023^
  30. France: New 4D Attraction "Attention Menhir!" Now Open at Parc Asterix eap-magazin.de, April 11, 2019, retrieved April 6, 2023^
  31. Theater thinking 'inside the box' to enhance moviegoers' experience Journal Inquirer, 2018-10-26, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  32. D-Box Adds Two Motion Recliner Locations Stateside; Raises Global Screen Coverage To 700+ – ShowEast Deadline, 2018-10-23, retrieved 2021-01-05^
  33. A night with the cast of 'Jackass 3-D' Viewpoints Online, 2010-10-27, retrieved 2021-01-04^
  34. Disney, D-Box Ready to Rumble on Blu-ray High Def Digest, 2007-12-11, retrieved 2021-01-05^
  35. D-BOX Technologies Inc. blooloop.com, 11 November 2022, retrieved April 5, 2023^
  36. D-BOX Technologies Inc. bloomberg.com, retrieved April 5, 2023^