Schott Reveals Touch-Controlled Reading Light
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At the 2020 Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Schott will showcase its new Jade Reading Light, which was designed by PriestmanGoode. The product claims to mark two firsts for aircraft reading lights – it is made of glass and controlled by touch.
Thanks to modern sensor technology, Schott’s new Jade Reading Light allows passengers to adjust the position and brightness of their personal reading light using touch. Ben Rowan, director of PriestmanGoode, who led the project, explained, “Passengers use what they are familiar with in everyday life as reference points. With the Jade light, we wanted to design something that would mirror the touch-screen usability that passengers are familiar with from using smartphones.”
And by replacing the traditionally metal casing material with glass, Schott’s Jade Reading Light provides a multitude of benefits.
Firstly, the glass is scratch-resistant and shatterproof, and its smooth surface does away with extra components. Schott claims that 80-90% of reading light repairs are due to mechanical defects, and that the Jade Reading Light’s simple design means the cause of these defects no longer exists.
Secondly, the Jade reading Light represents new branding opportunities. It can be installed in either landscape or portrait format, in standard or metallic colors. There’s also the option to add custom 3D-effects to the surface.
Finally, the Jade Reading Light and its integrated ambient light halo can be connected to the aircraft’s cabin management system, meaning the crew can automatically set the lighting back to a custom setting, which creates or enhances mood lighting scenarios that improve passenger wellbeing.
Rowan explained, “Ambient lighting goes a long way to creating a more inviting space. More intimate mood lighting, like the Jade light halo creates, is often reserved for the most premium seats. We felt that this new technology and the unique material properties of this light allowed us to enhance the overall product in a way that could be implemented across multiple classes.”
The development of the Jade Reading Light began in August 2019, following the launch of Schott’s Opal and Sapphire reading lights at last year’s AIX event. The three reading lights form Schott’s “Jewels in the Sky” series.
According to Philip Fischer, sales director Aviation/Automotive at Schott, the Jade Reading Light weighs approximately the same as Schott’s Opal Reading Light, which is around 100 grams and represents a 50% reduction compared to older, more traditional reading lights. He also said the “Jewel in the Sky” series lighting can be mounted and dismounted quickly, usually in less than 60 seconds.
Schott’s Jade Reading Light will be featured in seats showcased by selected seat manufacturers at the Aircraft Interiors Expo.