Giunti Labs improves on-board services in EU project, E-Cab

Giunti Labs has been chosen as the content management technology partner in the EU project, E-Cab, for new generation on-board services.

Learning content management technology specialist Giunti Labs has been named as one of 31 partners in 14 European countries who are collaborating on a 36 month project to create a series of new services for air passengers. Among Giunti Labsí partners in this project are Airbus, Thales Avionics, EADS, Selex Communications, Siemens and the University of Bremen.

The project, called Electronic Enabled Cabin and Associated Logistics for Improved Passenger Services and Operational Efficiency (E-Cab), has received research funding from the European Communityís Six Framework Programme.

The project focuses on the development of on-board services to improve the flying experience. These services aim to optimise information delivery, the baggage handling process and boarding procedures and may also extend to passengersí use of communication services while in the air.

According to Fabrizio Cardinali, Giunti Labsí CEO: Giunti Labs will be contributing its considerable expertise in innovative software architectures development, advanced content management and edutainment applications to help develop the innovative passenger services which the E-Cab project aims to deliver.

The E-Cab project is aimed at giving greater control to passengers by collecting, manipulating and providing passengers with intelligent information. This allows passengers to know when they are expected on the aircraft; the location of their luggage, and will enable them to determine the amount of time - for leisure or business - that they have while at an airport.

On-board the aircraft, passengers will have control over the means by which they access their connectivity, with options ranging from mobile phones, PDAs and laptop computers to the classical IFE (In-flight Entertainment) interface. Passengers will also be given the means to control their use of time on board the aircraft by being able to, for example, order meals at times that suit their individual needs.

The projectís goal is to provide airline passengers with a broad range of advanced services that are currently unavailable from any airline. In future, thanks to E-Cab, airlines could provide passengers with access to tourist information about their holiday destination; video and music on demand, as well as personalised and secure services such as email access.

The Integration of on-board services with the ground services will enable information to reach passengers real time, Cardinali explained. For example, they will be able to check the gates for transfer flights before they reach the terminal or they can order and pay by credit card for duty free products before arriving at the airport.