Wish You Were Here... Live Impressions From Flight BA2172. Stefan Marti M.I.T. Media Lab April 12th 2000

Motivation: n The passengers feel disconnected from the world, and the world feels disconnected from the passengers. n Flight is a unique experience for passengers, full of expectations and memories, but poorly documented.

Basic Idea: n During the flight, connect the passengers to their friends and families, and vice versa. n After the flight, help them to preserve this unique experience.

Realization: Each flight has a unique and personalized Web page with: n Live personal video messages from the passengers. n Interesting real-time information about the flight.

Function of the Web page: n Before and during flight: Reflects passenger impressions, flight status. n After flight: Serves as a travel log, photo and video album, like a “souvenier.”

[ Web page demo]

Technology: n Video booths; outside video cameras; portable cameras for inside use (preferably wireless). n Network downlink to earth. n External information sources like radar, etc. n Web scripts that automatically integrate this information.

Outside video equipment: n Commercial products, e.g., from Aerial View Systems. n Supersmall wireless CMOS cameras with analog transmission (2.4 GHz). n Similar cameras, but digital transmission with Bluetooth.

Inside video equipment: n “Video booths”, similar to Sticker or Photo booths. n Cameras built into seats, similar to Web cams. n Tiny wireless hand held cameras, very cheap, very light (14 grams without batteries).

Downlink to Earth: Most likely via satellites. n INMARSAT: slow, 64K bit/sec. Already available n TELEDESIC: much faster, up to 64M bit/sec. Not available yet n Other options

On Earth: Web script that automatically integrates all information, from airplane and from external sites, into a unique, “alive” Web page. Its URL will be printed on the tickets, and also linked from the BA Web site.