Virtual Future
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This article originally appeared in The Technology Issue of APEX Experience.
With the Concept Cabin, Airbus had taken the traditional cabin model and shook it up like a snow globe. The snow settled to reveal a cabin that could be customized to look like a golf course, bedroom or tropical forest, thanks to virtual decor projection. Fast-forward five years, and now, according to Nicolas Tschechne, Airbus trend research and market intelligence specialist, “[The Concept Cabin is] still a future concept, but we’re still quite sure that with the right technologies we are already looking at now, that we can deliver a product quite similar to the one we’re envisioning right now.”
What will the future Airbus cabin look like? Picture one where first, business and economy classes are replaced by three designated zones – Vitalizing, Interaction and Smart Tech. These zones allow passengers to relax, interact with other passengers or play games. Using holographic displays that are projected onto the walls and intelligent gestural controls, passengers can squeeze in a virtual game of golf or browse the racks of a virtual shopping wall.
Passengers looking for a more private experience can take advantage of pop-up pods that can be used for anything from virtual business meetings with co-workers on the ground to saying goodnight to their kids back home.
According to Charles Champion, Airbus executive vice-president of engineering, “The Airbus Concept Cabin shows that the journey can be as much a voyage of discovery as the destination … The passenger of 2050 will step out of the Airbus Concept Cabin feeling revitalized and enriched.”
In addition to improving passengers’ experiences mid-flight, airlines are using augmented virtual reality tours to give potential customers a peek into what their flying experience will be like. Virgin Atlantic lets passengers tour the cabin of its 787 Dreamliner right from their mobile devices.
Holographic displays and virtual decor projection aren’t exclusive to airlines. In 2013, Richtree Natural Market Restaurants, which serves up organic fare, opened a new flagship restaurant in Toronto featuring a state-of-the-art hologram hostess. The hostess, dubbed “Mrs. Green,” welcomes customers and provides information. Other high-tech features include a 23-foot video mural and an interactive wall where children can play games. Says CIO Joshua Sigel: “The Richtree experience was created to incorporate the latest technology without sacrificing quality or customer service, establishing a contemporary environment that is inviting for both kids and adults.”