This could be the future of air travel: windowless aeroplane which give passengers a panoramic view of the world outside.

In little over a decade, the next generation of commercial aircraft could have no windows. Instead, they’d be replaced by thin, lightweight displays showing views of the outside of the aircraft via externally mounted cameras. Alternatively, you could tap a display to learn about where you are flying over or, if that doesn’t appeal, simply browse the web or catch up on emails.

The full-length displays could form part of the plane’s in-flight entertainment system. The screens would be fashioned from OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes) made up of a blend of materials that emit their own illumination. The display may also provide subtle mood lighting by gently glowing a desired colour. Passengers could also control colour changes linked with sunset and sunrise which should help offset the impact of jet lag.

The concept for this type of interactive display is inspired by mobile phone and TV technology, and comes from the UK’s Centre for Process Innovation (CPI). The displays could form key components in the fuselage. By swapping windows for panels covered by paper-thin screens, the fuselage can become lighter. There is, after all, a constant need to reduce weight from aircraft to save money on fuel and be environmentally friendly. It’s thought that this vision could take off in 10 years.

Title Image Credit: CPI