Accessible In-Flight Entertainment Systems: Status Report

The National Center for Accessible Transportation (NCAT) and the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) are working together on a project to improve the accessibility of in flight entertainment (IFE) systems for older passengers as well as those with sensory and agility impairments. The two centers are partnering with industry collaborators to develop the next generation of IFE systems that use universal design principles in the development of systems that can be used by all travelers. The early results of the collaborative project include the framework for the development of functional specifications for the use by the IFE industry. In terms of this project, the IFE industry includes the developers of the technology as well as aircraft manufacturers who must incorporate these systems on their aircraft and the airlines who purchase these systems. These specifications use universal design principles that incorporate the needs of older travelers as well as travelers with sensory and agility impairments to insure that new IFE systems can be used by most travelers