Check out Thales’ new Immersive Seat - We test the aviation-world's most advanced aircraft seat

The seat, which has been called the ‘Immersive Seat’, currently exists as a fully functional prototype with all features enabled, but, as of yet, no airline has chosen to purchase the seat. The hope of BE Aerospace and Thales is that the first airline to order the advanced seat will help with the fine-tuning and final details. Although it looks advanced, it is a business class seat we are talking about, not a first class seat. On board, the seat would likely be placed in a 1-2-1 configuration on any of the modern long distance airplanes. The reason for this is that the first class industry is seeing a large trend toward suites. Assistance with developing the design has been received from BMW Designworks.

BE Aerospace - Thales Business Class Immersive Seat

Eye Synchronisation with infrared camera

The uniqueness of the Immersive Seat is that you do not need to use a remote control to manage and navigate through the in-flight entertainment system. Everything is done through an eye reading infrared camera. When you turn on the screen for the first time, eye synchronisation is initiated. For the first minute after you turn on the screen, an airplane will fly around the screen for you to follow with your eyes. This way the system learns the person’s eye location and movements.  

Screen synchronisation After synchronisation is complete, you can navigate through the menus by simply looking at the key or icon you are interested in and the system will automatically click on that option, or start that movie, TV show or music album. The camera also follows your eyes during playback. If you happen to fall asleep, the system will notice and automatically pause the movie. The same happens when a flight attendant begins to serve food or drink, or if you look away from the screen for a certain length of time. At the side of the seat, on the armrests, are two control panels used to supplement the eye tracking and for regulating the seat's functionality. It mostly reads the person's hand movements.

Mobile Synchronisation

The system also synchronises with the passenger’s mobile phone when it is laid on a designated area next to the screen. The idea is that the system will then be able to read the settings on the phone, such as the person's screen image or favourite colours, and apply these to different screens so that the environment around the seat is individually adapted. The mobile phone will also be able to save information from the in-fight entertainment system. For example, if you start watching a movie and do not have time to finish it, then when it is time to land, the phone would save this information. If you were to later sit in a similar seat on another aircraft, the system would be able to pick up where it left off in the film. There is also the functionality in the system to keep track of connecting flights and personal travel preferences for meals and favourite drinks.

System exchanges information with mobile phone of the passenger

Built-in massage, vibrating effects and surround sound

There is no need to use headphones with the Immersive Seat, there are instead built-in speakers in the headrest that provide 5.1 CH Surround Sound. The speakers are well integrated into the seat structure and can virtually not be heard when standing just one metre from the seat. In addition, the backrest of his seat has built-in vibrating effects. This means, for example, when watching a war movie with explosions, you are able to feel the vibrations in the backrest, making the experience more vivid. The backrest also has a built-in massage feature.

Not just one screen - two screens

The seat houses not just one screen, but two. In front of the seat there is a 24-inch 4K monitor with Ultra HD resolution. In addition, there is also a screen to the side that acts as a virtual window. This screen can be adapted to the traveller’s wishes. On the prototype, the virtual window was used to demonstrate an advanced aerial map where you are able to see roughly where you are during your flight as well as upcoming events on the flight, such as meal servings and arrival time. The window can also be used to promote relaxation by displaying therapeutic scenes like an aquarium containing fish, or a virtual landscape giving the impression one is travelling on the ground.

The virtual window on a flight between Hamburg and Seattle The idea of ​​the additional window is to give a new aspect to a surface that is normally empty or occupied by a wall. The screen can also function as a boundary between you and your neighbour.

Fully-flat seat, with a screen that adapts

Unsurprisingly, when the seat is fully reclined it is horizontal - or “fully flat” as they say in the industry. This is fast becoming standard in international Business Class. The seat is very comfortable to both sit and lie in, it is big enough for a passenger to easily find a comfortable position. A unique feature of the Immersive Seat is the adaptable screen. If you recline the seat so that you are leaning back, the screen will automatically tilt forward so it is still directed towards your eyes and providing the best possible viewing experience.

Different seat controls

What do BusinessClass think?

Fun and advanced! It was incredibly fun to have the opportunity to test this vision of the future. It is very important, however, that the seat is functional and that everything works as it should. No one wants to sit in a seat with design bugs, it would be contrary to the aim of improving the travel experience. Finding a good balance between technology and useful features to upgrade the travel experience is what has been attained here. The chair is additionally both comfortable and ergonomic. BE Aerospace and Thales are probably also wise to wait with the fine-tuning until they have an interested customer who can give some good feedback from a passengers perspective, so that the seat is not just based on the ideas of engineers and designers. It will be interesting to see if any airlines go for the product as that airline will clearly stand out from the crowd. BE Aerospace and Thales has also produced a video that explains the seat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AxJV-bHPs1s