By Katherine Hoby
Dean Zajonskowski is far from the "mad professor-style" inventor.
But he is typical in one way. For this Mount Maunganui inventor is humble but passionate about his work.
Mr Zajonskowski has invented and developed the Atlantis multi-sensory globe. The virtual reality simulator allows travel through time, through the body, and
even inside a plant.
"It's like a travel Machine, a time machine," he said.
"You can go forward in time, back, whatever you like. You can stop, hover, glide or go underwater. You can go through Middle Earth, through a plant."
The one being worked on is a smaller model to a large 12m globe currently being trialled at Auckland's Westgate shopping centre to educate children about environmental issues.
The simulator, or pod as it is affectionately known by the half-dozen workers at Mount Maunganui firm Depenz Ltd, has three main uses - entertainment, education and health.
The smaller model currently has five seats and unlike other simulators, actually moves.
"You get the feeling of lifting off then you're whizzing over mountains and through bush," Mr Zajonskowski said.
"We gave it the effect of going on a flying saucer and it's truly limitless in terms of what you can do with it."
The 2.4m sphere folds up, is made of aluminium, steel and laminated wood and has a wraparound screen.
Mr Zajonskowski hopes to be manufacturing the globe for export by the end of the year. Interest has been strong from Asia, Australia and the US.
The globe was due to be lowered onto The Strand last night, complete with lit up panels and flashing lights - all the bells and whistles of a true UFO.
Mr Zajonskowski said when dark the globe looked like "a molten ball, a piece of fiery coal".
The sphere will be set up for public use in a Western Bay location within a month.
Marketing co-ordinator Rangi Taueki said the "pod" had been a true team effort but the work was also fun.
"Where else can you have a job where in your lunchtime you can play?" he said, before admitting it might not solely be lunch hours he spends in the globe.
He felt the invention had "unlimited potential".
"I mean if you have an hour in Auckland Airport you could see the country in 20 minutes. How good is that?"
