E

xperiencing a movie that'€™s been given the 4DX treatment can make for a wild, sensory-absorbing ride. Although you make think that the gunshots are whizzing by and you'€™re feeling the spray from the sea, the technology used comes down to five simple effects.

Air Shot

How it works: Individual compressor systems, installed in the back of each chair, are fed by a tank and controlled by timecode so breeze-like puffs are released in sync with the action on screen.

How it'€™s used: Katniss Everdeen shoots an arrow at an enemy tribute in The Hunger Games and the audience feels a strong, short puff of air pass their ear.

Scent

How it works: A scent machine, containing 8 cartridge tubes with different scents, releases the smell using air pressure from an effect panel on the back of each chair.

How it'€™s used: Tobey Marshall, in the midst of a fierce street race in Need for Speed, turns sharply around a corner and the smell of burning rubber wafts through the cinema.

Wind

How it works: Fans are mounted on the ceiling in a batten system that also holds a strobe machine.

How it'€™s used: Captain America plunges out of a plane towards the dark ocean below and a strong wind blows in the cinema.

Fog

How it works: Located under the screen at the front of the cinema, a fog machine and liquid fog tank produce this effect. It'€™s the same as stage fog systems used at music concerts.

How it'€™s used: The dragon Smaug from The Hobbit destroys the village of Lake Town with its fiery breath and fog fills the auditorium.

Moving seats

How it works: Seats moves up and down (heave), tilt sideways (roll) and rocks backwards and forwards (pitch) in various combinations. An actuator system underneath each chair works to create movement.

How it'€™s used: Bryan in Taken 3 fights a Russian gangster and the seat'€™s movement mimics every blow and fall.