Distribution of Information to Airline Passengers
Original Publication Date: 1991-Apr-01
Included in the Prior Art Database: 2005-Apr-02
Publishing Venue
IBM
Related People
Abstract
This article describes a system whereby essential informative and entertainment information can be distributed to the passengers of a commercial airliner. Present methods include announcements by the crew or video tape and headphones connected to an outlet in the seat. The new method is also applicable to other situations where the public are similarly positioned, such as in ferries, motorcoaches or waiting in seated queues.
Distribution of Information to Airline Passengers
This article
describes a system whereby essential
informative and entertainment information can be distributed to the
passengers of a commercial airliner.
Present methods include
announcements by the crew or video tape and headphones connected to
an outlet in the seat. The new method is
also applicable to other
situations where the public are similarly positioned, such as in
ferries, motorcoaches or waiting in seated queues.
Proposed is
the use of a color LCD display array in a
waterproof, shatterproof housing which would physically replace the
tray table in each seat-back. By its
nature, it would be able to
carry meals and drinks and act as a writing surface in the same way
as present day tray tables. It would
also provide the following
forms of information and entertainment to passengers:
1) Emergency notices - large letters, many languages.
2) Services videos, e.g., emergency precautions, duty-free
menu, meals menu, landing care information
and assistance.
3) Movie - with selectable sub-titles.
4) Radar plot - our position, winds, temperature, ETA.
5) Personal Computer facilities.
Using the touch-sensitive surface, the
passenger can
interact with stored computer programs
such as word processing,
spread-sheeting, fax and telex
facilities, and programs
of a recreational nature.
6) Games.
7) Travelog, where we are going, currency, hotel
information, etc.
8) Advertise...