Here is a Magic Band that has been torn apart to see inside it

[DSLRuser]

http://atdisneyagain.com/2014/01/27/making-the-band-magicband-teardown-and-more/

Pretty interesting for those who don't really understand RF technology.

From the article. here is the interesting part. These are no just "near field" rf devices. They have technology that allows the bands to be tracked at great distances. Meaning, disney in theory, knows where you are, and where you have been in the parks.

""This means that Disney is wisely able to track MagicBand users as they travel throughout the Parks (and possibly Disney Property as a whole)""

 

[beckysko]

this is super interesting! Thanks! My DH is into computers, so he will love this.

 

[RalphinSC]

Really cool stuff. There is so much potential there for the use of that technology beyond what it is being applied to now. I think Disney was thinking way ahead on this one. They'll be doing things with this data and these bands in ten years far beyond what we see now.

 

[ashleyc1113]

That is really cool!

 

[Ametista]

Wow. Just a massive invasion of privacy on so many levels. I am sure they also track how many visits you make to the restroom and will be using that in their data. Are there scanners on the stall doors so they know if you actually peed or just wanted to check your eye makeup?

 

[chartle]

""This means that Disney is wisely able to track MagicBand users as they travel throughout the Parks (and possibly Disney Property as a whole)""

This isn't new news.

The thing to keep in is that due to the power limitatioms you would need receivers every 10 feet or so.

 

[Magpie]

Wow. Just a massive invasion of privacy on so many levels. I am sure they also track how many visits you make to the restroom and will be using that in their data. Are there scanners on the stall doors so they know if you actually peed or just wanted to check your eye makeup?

How is this an "invasion of privacy"? You have no right to privacy when you are on Disney property. They are absolutely entitled to know where you are and what you're doing, when you're in their parks.

Now, if Disney was tracking you off their property and into your home, that would be an invasion of privacy. But they're not.

After all, they don't need to. You've already voluntarily told them where you live, what your credit card number is, how old you are, how many children you have...

 

[AmyB2006]

How is this an "invasion of privacy"? You have no right to privacy when you are on Disney property. They are absolutely entitled to know where you are and what you're doing, when you're in their parks.

Now, if Disney was tracking you off their property and into your home, that would be an invasion of privacy. But they're not.

After all, they don't need to. You've already voluntarily told them where you live, what your credit card number is, how old you are, how many children you have...

Especially when you've agreed to take possession of the band. LOL

Very interesting pics though.

 

[rwdavis2]

Not surprised about it not being just "near field". One of the uses was/is to give a personal greeting during It's a Small World which would require reading the band from at least 20 feet or more.

 

[china mom]

For all those who cry "invasion of privacy" I say, invade away. As a mother who once lose a small child in the park and whose said child manage to escape the area in front of Thunder Mountain and made it all the way to the Tiki Room to take in a show... please Disney, invade my privacy - or, better yet, my child's privacy. I aged ten years while looking for that kid. Could you imagine if they could just search for him using RFID technology.

 

[misse320]

This is really interesting. I know a lot of people will jump toward "invasion of privacy" and "big brother" comments, but think of the positive applications! You lose your toddler (or one year we lost grandpa) in a crowd. If these bands allow Disney to pinpoint a lost person, then feel free to track my movement all day long!

Also consider those times where you a waiting in a bus queue 4-5 rows deep. If they can see that build-up and send more buses to specific places, GREAT!

 

[Minnie222]

Very interesting!

 

[DSLRuser]

This isn't new news.

The thing to keep in is that due to the power limitatioms you would need receivers every 10 feet or so.

I think what this tear down shows is the hardware is on your wrist is allowing you to be tracked at greater distances than perceived. many think, it only works from 6-12 inches because that is what it takes to light up the little mickey lanterns. Those and door locks for example are turned down at the receiver end to keep you from randomly activating that device.

The parks at least, and I bet the property (all 40,000 acres) will have receivers everywhere. this will not be an invasion of privacy to me, but a great help. Data is power.

Imagine, because of the bands, the bus dispatch being able to see 300 people waiting at a bus stop to go to a hotel. they can see how long they have been there, and can dispatch a bus or buses to move the people along.

If they notice a traffic pattern in a park has a bottle neck, it could show them a poorly placed popcorn cart is the culprit.

In a year or so is when this technology will pay off with big deividends on the investment. We all just have to ride out the growing pains.

 

[AmyB2006]

I think what this tear down shows is the hardware is on your wrist is allowing you to be tracked at greater distances than perceived. many think, it only works from 6-12 inches because that is what it takes to light up the little mickey lanterns. Those and door locks for example are turned down at the receiver end to keep you from randomly activating that device.

The parks at least, and I bet the property (all 40,000 acres) will have receivers everywhere. this will not be an invasion of privacy to me, but a great help. Data is power.

Imagine, because of the bands, the bus dispatch being able to see 300 people waiting at a bus stop to go to a hotel. they can see how long they have been there, and can dispatch a bus or buses to move the people along.

If they notice a traffic pattern in a park has a bottle neck, it could show them a poorly placed popcorn cart is the culprit.

In a year or so is when this technology will pay off with big deividends on the investment. We all just have to ride out the growing pains.

Disney has said in many statements that these are equipped with Long Range RFID capabilities. It's even in the printed material that comes with the MBs. I'm no technology genius, but I would assume "long range" means longer than 12 inches.

 

[chartle]

For all those who cry "invasion of privacy" I say, invade away. As a mother who once lose a small child in the park and whose said child manage to escape the area in front of Thunder Mountain and made it all the way to the Tiki Room to take in a show... please Disney, invade my privacy - or, better yet, my child's privacy. I aged ten years while looking for that kid. Could you imagine if they could just search for him using RFID technology.

This is really interesting. I know a lot of people will jump toward "invasion of privacy" and "big brother" comments, but think of the positive applications!

You lose your toddler (or one year we lost grandpa) in a crowd. If these bands allow Disney to pinpoint a lost person, then feel free to track my movement all day long!

This has been brought up before as a possible use for the "long range" (10 feet or so) scanning but if you have to go so far as to use this feature to find a lost kid, the kid probably doesn't want to be found.

These scanners could tell you where your kid was but not necessarily where your kid is now. The transmit range of these, based upon the FCC filings, is no more than maybe 20 feet. Its highly unlikely these readers would be all over the park with enough of them to track someone in real time. They are going to put these readers in the ride queues and probably the entrances to gift shops and TS restaurants.

The procedure they have in place right now, walking the kid around, would find the parents quicker than taking the kid somewhere, having their band scanned, looking up maybe your reservation to find a cell phone number, calling that number and hope you answer.

The point I'm making is don't rely on these "Magic" bands to find your kid.

 

[Tomh]

For all those who cry "invasion of privacy" I say, invade away. As a mother who once lose a small child in the park and whose said child manage to escape the area in front of Thunder Mountain and made it all the way to the Tiki Room to take in a show... please Disney, invade my privacy - or, better yet, my child's privacy. I aged ten years while looking for that kid. Could you imagine if they could just search for him using RFID technology.

What an awesome idea!

 

[chartle]

1. I think what this tear down shows is the hardware is on your wrist is allowing you to be tracked at greater distances than perceived. many think, it only works from 6-12 inches because that is what it takes to light up the little mickey lanterns. Those and door locks for example are turned down at the receiver end to keep you from randomly activating that device.

The parks at least, and I bet the property (all 40,000 acres) will have receivers everywhere. this will not be an invasion of privacy to me, but a great help. Data is power.

2. Imagine, because of the bands, the bus dispatch being able to see 300 people waiting at a bus stop to go to a hotel. they can see how long they have been there, and can dispatch a bus or buses to move the people along.

3. If they notice a traffic pattern in a park has a bottle neck, it could show them a poorly placed popcorn cart is the culprit.

In a year or so is when this technology will pay off with big deividends on the investment. We all just have to ride out the growing pains.

1. The reason why the receivers would have to be every 20 feet or so is because of how little power they use. Someone else looked at the power they put out and figured that it could only have about a 10 to 15 foot range. These things only have a small coin cell and are expected to last 3 years so they can't broadcast with say enough power that your phone uses to use wi fi.

2. For this all they would really have to do is look at a video monitor and see the large group of people waiting. Now it could be used at a resort where you would scan your band, not the "long" range and use some sort of touch screen to say where you are going.

3. Again video could tell you that.

I just don't think they are or even really can track your "every" move like say an app like map my walk. The reason is just the vast amount of data that has to be collected and stored. 70,000 guests passing thousands of tracking points creates a crap load of data. I see them only putting them in strategic areas and places that use the Magic Experience.

 

[ucfknight]

While the teardown is neat to see, it has been know for a very long time that the bands include both passive short range (RFID) and active "long" range radios.

 

[ktlm]

Thanks so much for posting this!! My DH was dying to rip his apart and look inside, but I wouldn't let him!


Chinamom just ! I can't imagine how terrifying that was for you. As a toddler/preschooler my DD(7) was extremely independent and not scared to go off on her own too. Totally stressful trying to keep up with her- I can't imagine losing one at WDW!

 

[over50visits]

This is really interesting. I know a lot of people will jump toward "invasion of privacy" and "big brother" comments, but think of the positive applications! You lose your toddler (or one year we lost grandpa) in a crowd. If these bands allow Disney to pinpoint a lost person, then feel free to track my movement all day long!

Rewritten:
If these bands allow Disney to pinpoint a lost person, then feel free to ask my permission to track my movement all day long!