Personalised sound zone removes need for headphones on planes

Jamco Corporation, an aircraft interiors supplier and NTT Sonority, an affiliated organisation of NTT Group (Japan’s largest telecommunications company) have collaborated to create the Personalized Sound Zone (PSZ) experience for commercial aircraft.

Currently in the R&D phase, the patented PSZ technology enables the embedded speakers located in each individual headrest to create a sound zone that surrounds each passenger’s head area allowing only the individual passenger to hear audio without the use of headphones. The passenger will be able to control the volume and sound setting from the speakers.

By using the patented technology, the sound is contained to the ultimate level and will not disturb neighboring passengers. This is all possible without the use of headphones. At the same time, unlike standard wearable devices, the passenger still can hear in-flight announcements. Flight attendants can communicate with each passenger without them removing their headphones. 

The PSZ will remove all drawbacks of headphones such as wires, cleaning and maintenance for reuse, or disposing of them, eventually aligning with airline industry sustainability goals. Jamco and NTT Sonority promise a next-generation in-flight audio experience, targeted to be launched in 2023.

www.jamco.co.jp/en