Enlarge The patent rendering of the foot scanning robot that would take a depth and camera image… more 
 
 No this isn't a joke: A patent from The Walt Disney Co. wants to scan your feet for data. The patent, dubbed "system and method using foot recognition to create a customized guest experience," seeks to use a mobile scanning mechanism or robot that would use a foot scanner to take depth information and a camera to take appearance information of a guest's foot and use that data to determine various factors like the most popular rides and common paths guests take from ride to ride. The patent, issued by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on July 19 after originally being filed in April 2015, also describes the use of concealed sensors throughout a theme park that would track the guests' movements and keep collecting data on that logistical information. "Recognizing individual guests or providing a method for an individual to register at certain rides or other attractions allows the amusement park to tailor certain experiences for the guest, such as creating a customized media output (e.g., photograph) directed to the particular guest," said the patent. It argues that techniques like retinal and fingerprint identification tend to be invasive, obtrusive, and inaccurate if guests are wearing certain accessories such as sunglasses or hats. It states the foot scanners would be able to take detailed information on a shoe including the color, tread and wear patterns, stains and even if gum were on the bottom of the shoe — all to reduce confusion of following the wrong guest on the data collecting side. "Less invasive manners, such as comparing a user's clothing or the like, can produce inaccurate results as many guests may have similar clothing or may change clothing, such putting on or taking off an outer layer or sweater, which can make detection unreliable," said the patent.  Cloud 
 
 Disney has been granted a patent for a proposed shoe recognition system, which would inconspicuously track guests’ feet around the theme parks and gather information on the popularity of rides, stores and shows.
– Disney has received a patent to take pictures of visitors' feet at its theme parks, the Los Angeles Times reports. Specifically, the patent titled System and method using foot recognition to create a customized guest experience would scan guests shoes when they enter the park then track them as the move about. According to the Orlando Business Journal, this would allow Disney to track guests' favorite rides and paths through the park. It could also allow them to have Donald Duck greet guests by name or get souvenir photos or videos to them more quickly. The scanners could discern everything from shoe color, to wear patterns, to gum stuck on the sole. Disney filed for the patent back in 2015; it was issued by the US Patent & Trademark Office on July 19. The company, however, says it has no plans to actually use its foot camera patent. A spokesperson tells the Times that Disney files a lot of patents in an "ongoing effort to relentlessly innovate and push the boundaries of creativity and technology to create immersive experiences and legendary guest service." Disney had already decided against biometric scanning—such as fingerprinting, retinal scans, and facial recognition—to track visitors because it considers it too invasive, the Stack reports. Plus those methods can be thrown off by things like hats and sunglasses. The company also didn't want to track clothing because that would "require cameras that are visible to the person." The shoe-scanning cameras throughout the park would be "out of a person's line of sight." (But will members of "Club 33" have their photos taken?)