The future of air travel may be windowless — but with even better views


"Window or aisle seat?" The question is practically as old as air travel itself — but if a new technology from the U.K.-based Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) catches on, the passenger planes of the future may be completely windowless.
But if you're a traveler who loves to stare out at the heavens from your 30,000-foot perch, fear not: By developing an ultra-thin, lightweight, and flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display screen, CPI aims to replace the traditional airplane window with a floor-to-ceiling livestream of the outside world, fed by cameras mounted on the outside of the jet. CPI anticipates the effect would look something like hurtling through the sky in a big glass tube:
(CPI)
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There's a practical motivation for turning a passenger plane's walls into a giant video screen. Eighty percent of a plane's flying weight is its structure and its fuel; eliminating windows allows for a thinner fuselage, less fuel consumption, lower emissions, and even wider seats in a roomier cabin. Another advantage is customizable displays, as an individual could direct their "window seat" to display images from any side of the plane, meal service data, or in-flight entertainment.
CPI spokesman Dr. John Helliwell told Business Insider the technology will take roughly 10 years to bring to the next generation of commercial aircraft. In the meantime, learn more about the technology in the promotional video below — and give yourself something to daydream about when you're angling for a view out of the tiny glass portals on your next flight. --Mike Barry
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Mike Barry is the senior editor of audience development and outreach at TheWeek.com. He was previously a contributing editor at The Huffington Post. Prior to that, he was best known for interrupting a college chemistry class.
-
Do smartphone bans in schools work?
The Explainer Trials in UK, New Zealand, France and the US found prohibition may be only part of the solution
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequel
The Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
-
7 US cities to explore on a microtrip
The Week Recommends Not enough vacation days? No problem.
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia