Delta Air Lines has introduced the world’s first-ever ‘Parallel Reality’ experience for travellers going through security at the McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) in the US.

The ‘Parallel Reality’ display allows up to 100 customers to see their personalised flight information on a single digital screen at the same time. Each customer who opts in can see only their flight information.  

“This mind-blowing technology helps create a more streamlined and personalised airport experience for customers, allowing them to navigate the airport with ease and eliminating the need to search for their specific flight among rows on a departure board,” according to the airline.

Customers can opt in to the voluntary ‘Parallel Reality’ experience simply by scanning a digital or paper boarding pass.

How it works

• The proprietary multi-view pixel technology within ‘Parallel Reality’ displays can direct different-coloured light to each of many viewing zones, allowing multiple people simultaneously looking at the same display to see only their own unique, personalised content.
• Customers must opt in at the registration kiosk to engage with the experience. Once opted in, a private viewing zone is created at the customer’s location, and the display directs relevant flight information to that zone.
• An overhead sensor detects the customer’s presence and location, using anonymous non-biometric object detection (the sensor sees the customer as an object, without recognisable features).
• As customers move around, the non-biometric overhead sensor continually shifts their private zone to their new location. This allows customers to only see their own personalised content even as they move within the viewing area.
• Once customers exit the ‘Parallel Reality’ experience viewing area, they must opt in again at the registration counter to see their personalised flight information again.

Watch a video of ‘Parallel Reality’ in action at DTW below: