Virtual reality … the new boarding agents have caught public attention
Paris-Orly Airport is trialling the use of “virtual” boarding agents as they look to bring a 21st-century element to the check-in process.
These life-size virtual agents have been so convincing at times – saying “Bonjour! I invite you to your boarding gate” and “Paris Airport wishes you a Bon Voyage!” – that reports have emerged of passengers attempting to interact with them.
People have been seen touching and talking to the avatars as they materialise.
The holograms are triggered when a passenger presses a button and the images are projected onto a silhouette made from plexiglass.
The French versions have been installed in Hall 40 at Orly airport, one of a number of boarding gates at Paris’ second airport.
The Director of Operations at Orly Airport, Didier Leroy, is pleased with the impact that the images are having: “Children like it, its fun”. “They’re attracted to it and try to play with it.”
The Paris trial follows the introduction of virtual agents to other airports including Manchester and London Luton.
Tensator, a company which creates the technology to produce virtual agents, has also installed virtual assistants in security queues at Birmingham, Bristol and London Luton.
Ajay Joshi, Tensator’s media product development manager, is excited about the possibilities.
“On a global scale, interest in this technology has been high and we are in talks with numerous airports and airlines across the globe,” stated Joshi.
