Are we there yet? New in-flight maps point to more fun on planes

[marmar]

(CNN) -- On a long flight, there is something tortuously satisfying about making frequent check-ins to the route map.

So much so that the moving map is actually the most popular feature on the in-flight entertainment system. Perhaps we can chalk it up to our inner child, who still demands to know "are we there yet?"

Despite their popularity, these cartographic progress reports have met with little innovation over the years, offering passengers barely more than the time to their next destination and current GPS coordinates. Seeing the untapped potential, some companies have started pushing the map to the next level.

This month, Singapore Airlines started trialing Hidden Journeys, a geo-entertainment program curated by The Royal Geographical Society with IBG and developed by software company Airborne Interactive. .......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/09/travel/flight-maps-the-newest-airline-moneymaker/index.html

[Brickbat]

1. "Untapped potential" and "next level" = in-app advertising and pay-to-play.

Eventually.

[Jesus Malverde]

6. "Untapped potential" eyeballs trapped in a seat for hours...

"Next level" of marketing madness...

You got it.

[MineralMan]

2. I will like that very much.

I'm a window seat guy, and love to watch the terrain pass below the plane. I will welcome a map system that helps me identify what I"m looking at. On my regular flights, I've already figured out just about every town and river and feature we pass. But, for flights I don't usually take, I want this!

[enlightenment]

3. It would be neat if they designed

geography "games" associated with the areas.

For instance, if you're flying over Germany, it could ask (with a map reference - maybe a flashing icon): What is the capital of the country with the flashing icon? Or, what is the major river we just flew over? Or, what is that big mountain range to the south called?

[MineralMan]

4. There's lots of potential in this.

Sadly, mostly it will be used for advertising, but I can work around that.

[enlightenment]

5. True.

But it would be neat if they worked in some stealth learning, too . . .