In-Flight Virtual Reality

Qantas Airlines has embarked on a three-month trial of providing virtual reality entertainment to first class passengers, both in-flight and in airport lounges. Initially, they will be showing virtual tours of first class lounges as well as a simulated landing of an A380, but the plan is to expand visual offerings to first-run films and live-action content of destination cities. For example, the tourist board for Australia’s Northern Territory has partnered with the airline to produce a 3D experience of Kakadu National Park.

The service features Samsung’s Gear VR headsets which borrow technology from the popular Oculus Rift gaming accessory, tracking every movement to provide a natural and intuitive virtual reality experience. Gear VR utilizes information streamed from the Galaxy Note 4 smartphone to create an immersive 3D environment for the user.

In addition to entertainment, the company is looking to develop content for training pilots and other mass transit operators. Automotive manufacturers are also interested in the technology to offer virtual tours of new cars.