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New at movie theaters

Displaying “The Hobbit” at 48 frames per second and in 3D are not the only technologies employed for the movie. Others are:

Dolby Atmos » A new sound system for movie theaters that employs 56 speakers with 53 different sound channels, much more than a standard movie theater. The speakers are not only on the walls but in the ceiling, resulting in sound effects that envelop the viewer. Only one auditorium in Utah — at the Megaplex Theatre in the Valley Fair Mall — uses the system.

D-Box » An immersive type of theater seat with force feedback similar to the “Sensurround” gimmick of the 1970s. But this system, available at select Megaplex Theatres, is much more sophisticated and can not only rumble but also sway, dip and jolt the viewer’s in synchronization with the movie’s action.