- Hainan Airlines this week began distributing Rokid's AR (augmented reality) glasses on some routes for in-flight entertainment, the technology startup announced Thursday.
- Rokid claimed it was the first time that augmented reality glasses — whose technology allows digital images to be overlaid on the real world — had been used on a large scale in flights.
- Apple's virtual reality headset, Vision Pro, which is not yet available in China, features a "travel" mode that balances motion for use on airplanes.
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BEIJING — Hainan Airlines this week began allowing passengers on some routes to use Rokid's augmented reality glasses for free for in-flight entertainment, the technology startup announced Thursday.
Chinese startup Rokid said it was the first time augmented reality glasses — which allow digital images to be overlaid on the real world — had been used on a large scale in flights. Passengers could watch 3D movies, read e-books and play simple games using the glasses, rather than on a built-in screen.
Apple's virtual reality headset, Vision Pro, which is not yet available in China, has a "travel" mode that smooths out motion for use on airplanes. The device allows users to see the real world using what the company calls "spatial computing" technology.
See also: Tesla driver arrested by police for using Apple Vision Pro
Rokid's deal with Hainan Airlines is more of a marketing effort to raise consumer awareness of augmented reality glasses than a major commercial deal, the startup's founder and CEO, Misa Zhu, said in a CNBC phone interview on Wednesday.
He said Rokid is in discussions “with multiple airlines” for similar partnerships, including at least one major international carrier. Zhu said he was not authorized to disclose details, but expects more announcements in the coming months.
See also: VR headsets: The "battle" between Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3
Hainan Airlines, one of the major carriers in China and also offering international routes, released a short video to promote its partnership with Rokid.
Zhu said the airline purchased hundreds of Rokid AR glasses for passengers to use free of charge on more than 20 flights. Each pair costs just over 3,000 yuan ($420) and weighs 75 grams.
For comparison, Apple's Vision Pro costs around $3,500 and weighs between 600 and 650 grams.
Hainan Airlines first tested Rokid's AR glasses on a commercial flight from Shenzhen to Xi'an on Wednesday and is introducing the devices on several other flights starting today, Rokid said.
The testing period has been set for a month, coinciding with the Lunar New Year holiday in China that officially begins on Saturday, during which millions of Chinese travel domestically.
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“Airlines are very excited because they can offer more services, and they are very competitive,” Zhu said in Chinese, as translated by CNBC.
He said Rokid is discussing integrating the AR glasses into other modes of transportation, such as high-speed trains.
Source: cnbc
