Airbus passengers may soon have access to virtual reality helmets

It has been observed recently that the seats in our airplanes are starting to get smaller. This is because by using smaller seats, it could potentially allow airline companies to offer up more seats in their planes, thus making more money per trip than they used to. This usually results in a somewhat uncomfortable flying experience. Now there are several ways that your trip can be made to feel less boring and draggy, which is to listen to music, read a book, or watch movies. However it seems that Airbus has come up with a way to help make that experience even more immersive which could ultimately make you feel like you’re not even on a plane at all.

In a world where economy-class seats are getting thinner and lavatories are shrinking, any flight longer than an hour can feel like a traveling prison. Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is abetting the shift, but a recent patent filing shows it hasn’t forgotten about you, the passenger who actually has to sit in these miserable flying cells. It’s considering helmets that will let you forget you’re in an airplane at all. Flying can be boring or stressful, which is why airlines provide music, movies and bad TV. The next step appears to be thoroughly immersing passengers in what they’re watching. “The helmet in which the passenger houses his/her head offers him/her sensorial isolation with regard to the external environment,” reads the patent filing. The helmets feature headphones to provide music. You can watch movies (perhaps in 3D) on the “opto-electronic” screen or possibly through “image diffusion glasses.” If you want to get some work done, turn on the virtual keyboard, which appears on your tray, don a pair of motion capture gloves, and type away. The helmet could even pipe in different odors for an olfactory treat, and the whole thing would be nicely ventilated.