Featured Image Credit: Safran/Devialet/Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
I think we can all agree that the most annoying passengers are the loudest ones.
Everyone is forced to endure the music choice from the obnoxious person who's who insists on playing it aloud.
However, Japan Airlines has introduced a controversial concept that could go either way with onboard passengers.
Yes, we're talking about the same country that respects a culture of silence especially in public places, like trains.
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But, hear it out...
Created by French company Devialet, the special seats have speakers integrated within the headrest that give passengers the option to play their audio out loud into the cabin.
This technology passengers to choose to listen to the plane's music and movies, without having to use headphones.
Aeroplane interiors company Safran, who teamed up with Devialet to create the seats, said their "patented acoustic technologies and acoustic tuning expertise" would offer "an optimum listening experience without affecting other passengers on board".
Founder of One Mile at a Time, Ben Schlappig, tried out the headrest speakers for himself and shared: 'You can literally blast the audio for your preferred movie, TV show, or song, directly through your headrest.'
According to the entrepreneur, passengers can still use headphones onboard if they wish.
When you choose your inflight entertainment, you'll be asked for your 'preferred sound output option' in which you can choose between the headphone jack, bluetooth, or the in-seat speakers.
It seems hard to imagine that you can't hear the person's music or movie next to you, especially since you already have to make sure the volume is loud enough to hear over the plane's engine.
Schlappig admitted that he could also 'faintly' hear what other people were listening to, describing it similar to 'hearing two people talking very quietly in the distance, where you feel like you might be hearing a whisper, but you can’t fully make it out.'
'At maximum volume, I’d say the audio is loud enough to hear everything that you’re watching, though the sound may not be very “rich,” and those without great hearing may struggle,' he added.
Schlappig also mentioned that since Business class seats are much closer together, he could see it being 'more disruptive' there.
Furthermore, Emirates is another airline that's looking to incorporate headrest speakers in their aircraft as soon as August this year.
The airline's president, Sir Tim Clark, stated that they are working to get 'wrap around sound' on its new A350s.
