As my dad drove by the Venetian hotel, I was speechless at the size of the large globe before us and the uncountable number of LED lights. We had traveled to Vegas to see the most recent addition: the Sphere. The height of the Sphere looked to be at least 30 stories. I wasn’t sure what we would encounter inside. We parked in a nearby parking lot and walked towards the entrance where there was thankfully not a long line — we didn’t have to wait long before we went in since we arrived early before the show time. After scanning our tickets, we went through metal detectors and arrived in a small lobby that guided us up long escalators, framed by side walls decorated with different equations that mirrored the sphere’s structure.
On the first floor, there was a small museum that showcased different AI robots: innovation, productivity, quantum and agriculture. The museum was lit up with lots of moody blue LED lights, giving it a futuristic and advanced feel. The most memorable robot was a quantum machine stationed in front of a unique speaker. It was humanoid and steel-colored, moving in time with its speech and motioning like a human. The light above us split the ground into four sections and according to where you stood in front of the speaker, you heard different instruments. The robot explained the process to visitors the technology as they experienced it.
After the museum, we were shuffled into the movie and theater space, a massive domed screen that filled our vision entirely. The stadium seating was impressive, but it was also scary to peer down the aisles toward the bottom. The movie we watched was “Postcard from Earth,” directed by Darren Aronofsky. It was about two humans awakening from cryosleep when they arrive at Saturn, only for their spaceship to explain all of Earth’s history so that they have their memories restored for their mission. The movie features majestic visuals about Earth’s wildlife and nature. There were clips of canyons, deep ocean, and tall city buildings — a whole range of every landscape on Earth, and the different animals. Their mysterious mission on Saturn is revealed after many clips of Earth’s beautiful scenery.
It was an immersive and thrilling showing, thanks to the advanced technology. I felt like I was traveling to parts of the world I had never seen before. The theater was equipped with unique technology, including smells and vibrating seating. During the showing, the seats would vibrate whenever animals passed by, like a large elephant. The screen was so large that it extended past your peripherals and way above the top of your head. It was a fun and unique way to spend the holidays with my family. At points, I felt like I was floating in a new world.
Leaving through the crowded lobby, I looked up at the far ceiling and wondered if this one-time experience was enough to justify the cost of building the sphere. However it was an impressive feat of construction, and it was interesting to learn more about the skills and technology used in all aspects of the building.
People should visit if they want to feel in awe of the greatness of technology.
