Edinburgh Airport has become the first airport in Scotland, and one of the earliest in the world, to trial the innovative Google Glass technology as part of its passenger operations.
Google Glass has rarely been used in an airport environment before, and from answering general questions about airport facilities to providing real-time flight information, the opportunities provided by the technology are vast.
Between now and the end of the year, the airport’s customer welcome team will be using the state-of-the-art eyewear to improve the experience for passengers at the airport, providing real-time flight information, foreign language translations and answers to general enquiries about the airport its city. Edinburgh Airport is the second UK airport to host a trial of Google Glass, following a successful pilot by Virgin Atlantic at London Heathrow’s Upper Class Wing earlier in 2014. The wearable technology has an optical head-mounted display, and works by displaying digital information in a hands-free format, similar to that which would be found on a smartphone. Those wearing a pair of Google glasses are able to communicate via the internet using voice commands and take pictures just by winking.
Google Glass has rarely been used in an airport environment before, and from answering general questions about airport facilities to translating passenger documentation into English, the opportunities provided by the technology are vast. Edinburgh Airport’s welcome team is currently testing the system in the airport’s check-in hall to establish the best way to assist passengers.
“We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to improve the airport experience for our passengers, and the Google Glass trial is a great example of how we’re thinking out the box,” Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said. “The fact that it’s the first trial of its kind in a Scottish airport is exciting as it shows we’re leading the way in how we interact with our passengers. Over the next few months we’ll be able to establish whether this product is suitable for an airport environment.”
Wearable technology will be high up the agenda at the forthcoming ACI Facilitation, IT and Customer Service Conference, hosted by Aéroports de Paris from 3-5 November, as part of the ACI EUROPE Airport Exchange event.
Senior representatives from Aéroports de Montréal, Schiphol, SITA, Copenhagen Airport, SEA Milano, JC Decaux, Finavia, Incheon Airport, Disneyland Paris, Eurostar, Isavia, Ink, LocusLabs and more will discuss the theme “Best in Class – the processes, technologies and support required to create a better passenger experience”.
