The high volume of both domestic and international travelers make airports a cultural hub that's brimming with the potential for human connection, but busy schedules and language barriers make it hard for individuals to meet, which is why the Dutch airline, KLM introduced 'Connecting Seats.'
Individuals open to meeting someone new were invited to sit in one of these seats, which used Google Cloud Speech to translate conversations, in real time. This translating system can recognize over 110 languages, breaking down the communication barriers, and reminding passengers to take a moment to connect with those around them.
This stunt challenges the notion that technology distances us, as it demonstrates the powerful relationship between technology and communication.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Real-time Translating Technology
- Expanding the use of real-time translation technology beyond airports and into hospitality, healthcare, and customer service industries.
- Interactive Seating
- Introducing Interactive seating to commercial and public spaces to facilitate meaningful connections among people from diverse backgrounds.
- Language Barrier Solutions
- Developing innovative solutions to overcome language barriers in various industries, from education to transportation to retail.
Where This Applies
- Airline
- Airline industry adopting real-time translation technology for enhanced passenger experience and engagement.
- Hospitality
- Hospitality industry introducing interactive seating to promote social interactions and cultural exchange among guests.
- Customer Service
- Customer service industry incorporating language translation tools to better serve customers from diverse backgrounds and languages.
