Technological innovation is leaping forward in the aircraft cabin, and it's not limited to in-flight entertainment and communications (IFEC).
Premier design consultancy Priestmangoode, for example, is the brainchild behind new, ultra-high-end aircraft seat control devices that "control all the things in the passenger environment" such as seat adjustments and settings, massage, lighting and even the 'do not disturb sign', notes co-founder Nigel Goode.
Check out the controllers designed by Priestmangoode for Kingfisher (above) and Swiss' new first-class product (below).
So here's my question - Can you easily combine a seat controller with the IFEC controller to save space and improve efficiency?
Getting all the seat controls and the IFE controls on the same handheld "is a nightmare", but it can be done, says Goode, noting that Priestmangoode has "done it in the past with one for Lufthansa but it's a very, very difficult thing".
Additionally, he says, "We're doing quite a lot with clients in developing the seat design and then we have to take a Thales or Panasonic unit [and incorporate that]. We are spending more time on the graphical user interface [GUI] of the airline as well because that's really important because there is a tendency for it to be quite boring - offering a menu and a few films - and it's not really thinking about how people really want to use this. We're spending quite a bit of time on that side."
on September 29, 2009 6:37 PM | Reply
Priestmangood? No, Priestmanbad.
on September 30, 2009 2:33 PM | Reply
What use would a don't disturb sign be if you don't have your own cabin? Or is that what's happening?
on October 5, 2009 8:47 AM | Reply
Emirates have a combined seat/suite and IFE controller. The 'IPSC' designed by LHT is meant to look and feel a little like the Bose remote control.
The IPSC was introduced on the EK A340-500 fleet and has gone wireless on more recent aircraft.