Even though it has been more than a century since the first commercial flight, the aviation business is still just as conservative as it was back then. When it comes to the commercial airlines’ on-board entertainment options, casinos are only offered by a very small fraction of such companies. Singapore Airlines attempted it, but they were not successful. In 1998, Swiss Air included gambling as part of its in-flight entertainment system; this decision was a mistake. Is it possible that in some versions of the future, in-flight gambling will be a part of the entertainment offered on electronic screens?
What are In-Flight Screens?
The extensive usage of seat-back screens or screens by most airlines has made in-flight entertainment one of the most thrilling and engaging features of long-distance air travel. Airline passengers’ “In-flight Entertainment” includes a wide range of entertainment options that are designed and produced for them (IFE). During the flight, customers have access to a variety of entertainment options, including movies, television shows, music, and online games. Another alternative is to relax and read a book, or to get some work done at the office.
Information on the flight route, the onboard cuisine, and procedure recommendations and other instructional inputs are all available through in-flight entertainment systems. These systems not only enable but also supply a profusion of data that passengers may find beneficial. In-flight entertainment options have come a long way from the occasional movie presented on a projector to sophisticated seat-back laptops filled with movies, gaming, maps, music, and a great deal more.
What are airlines waiting for, seeing as how the technology is already available?
There are many “excellent” reasons why there are no gambling systems installed in any commercial aircraft in today’s aviation industry. The disaster that occurred in 1998 with a plane belonging to Swiss Air ranks first. Overheating was a contributing factor in the crash that was caused by Swiss Air’s decision to install gambling screens on board its aircraft. However, those devices were cumbersome, required a lot of power, and, to tell the truth, did not provide the fun that was advertised.
The technology that was utilised in casinos in the year 1998 is considered antiquated in comparison to the technology that is currently available. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) games have been embraced by the gaming industry for a very long time. These systems are of a quality that allows them to be installed securely in aircraft of any size. After all, the vast majority of today’s gaming devices make use of batteries that can be recharged.
The Future May Hold Difficult Times for Airlines, Which May Force Them to Face New Reality
The widespread spread of the coronavirus has made the airline business significantly more difficult to operate. It’s possible that things will never go back to how they were, at least not until a treatment for COVID-19 is discovered. Could airlines, which are experiencing a decline in business, seize this chance to utilise the gambling industry in order to get back on their feet?
Wi-Fi is advertised on some airlines so that passengers can watch movies/ series like squid game or even listen to music while flying. Using this technique, we can see how different the gaming and aviation industries are. The idea of allowing passengers to gamble while flying is a great one that might help airlines generate additional revenue. Instead of only offering access to games, the airlines may develop relationships with local casinos to deliver a full-fledged casino experience in the air. This will be a very unique and fun feature that is recommended for anyone who is interested to see more and have a blast whilst in the air. The passengers had the opportunity to play with real money and gain frequent flyer miles while the plane was in the air.
This may be the answer to the insolvency issues that the airlines will face in the future as well as in the here and now. It is possible that it is only a matter of time until a forward-thinking airline becomes the first to welcome gambling in the same way that the cruise industry did.
In-flight entertainment options currently available
Display panels have become thinner and lighter as a result of advances in consumer electronics, such as smartphones and display technology. It was a game changer for in-flight entertainment and led to the concept of individual screens for each person. Airlines and in-flight leisure solutions OEMs began migrating their in-flight entertainment systems to run on Android in the last decade as Android became the standard of technology life. “Using Android makes the system simpler to maintain and improve,” says Virgin America.
Android-based in-flight entertainment options will allow passengers to play games, watch films, listen to music, and order meals right from their seats. Many ODMs and product development companies offer In-Flight Entertainment Design Services in addition to USB ports, audio jacks, and a credit card reader. Currently available in-flight entertainment options include a crew control system, seat-back screen units, a system and information server, a satellite antenna, network components, an aircraft Wi-Fi network, data and power wiring, and wireless access points for connecting passengers’ personal electronic equipment. Design considerations for any In-flight Entertainment system include: system security, cost effectiveness, software dependability, hardware maintenance, and interoperability with user devices.
Designing In-flight Entertainment Solutions to meet passenger preferences has been a major emphasis of recent technological advancements. Plug-and-play entertainment is a new trend impacting the in-flight entertainment experience for travellers. With Android-based systems, the most recent In-Flight Entertainment options may be scaled to any size and are very flexible. Passengers can use secure apps to make payments, order services, and access a variety of entertainment options.
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