Signal Spring 2020 Newsletter

8 www.alliancecom.net Looking Down the Road to the Future Robots At Alibaba’s “future hotel” in Hangzhou, you check in and open your room door using facial recognition technology. Mobile robots serve you food and you can consult with the digital concierge to arrange day trips, get transportation, or find a great place to eat. You can expect more robots to be in use as the years go by. Virtual Reality Virtual reality (VR) enables layered experiences, such as a surrounding visual experience along with moving theater seats. VR could also make it possible to try an adventure like hang-gliding, virtu- ally “visit” a remote location, or try out winter sports like skiing with no snow required (and no risk of broken bones). Augmented Reality Augmented reality (AR) combines the real and the virtual, such as superimpos- ing historical details about a landmark through the use of a smartphone app. It can also be used to provide information about museum exhibits or supplement menu listings in restaurants. Digital Detox Vacations Finally, all this technology means over- load for some people and that means digital detox vacations will become more popular. Destinations include cabins, hotels, or resorts where digital devices aren’t allowed or where there’s no inter- net service. Be sure to grab a paperback at the airport! Airplane Cabins Will Get Smarter in Next 10 Years If you’re like many plane travelers, you’ve at one point —after waiting in a long line, battling to find a place for your bag, and squeezing into your seat — looked around and thought, “There’s got to be a better way.” There is, and you’ll see more elements of it in the next 10 years. Here are some of the highlights of the Airbus“self-aware aircraft cabin of 2030.” • Load-sensitive overhead storage bins will tell you whether there’s room for your bag. • Prebooking for overhead bins will work with smart tags to match the right bag to the right spot. • Seats will also have sensors to indicate which are empty, have unbuckled seatbelts, or have tray tables down so the in-flight crew can be more efficient with safety instructions. • Galleys will gather data to deter- mine the most popular food items and improve the menu selection accordingly. • Advanced live weather reporting will result in less in-flight turbulence. The way we travel has changed tremendously in recent decades. Stricter security means an added step before you get on a plane, traveler’s checks are a thing of the past, and the internet has automated just about every step of the process. Here we look at what the next few years might have in store. FAST FACT: Solo travel is becoming increasingly popular, with 50 percent of those who vacation doing so alone once per year. Source: https://www.traveldailymedia.com/oliver-wyman-travel-trends/