Wi-Fi a No-Go unless free

SFGate.com reports that travellers used to getting a free wireless Internet connection on land aren’t willing to pay for one at 30,000 feet.

It says wireless Internet service on airlines hasn’t caught on, mostly because of the price. Travellers already paying US$25 to check a bag and $20 for a roomier seat don’t want to fork over $5 or more for Wi-Fi unless it’s necessary. They’re
saving their Web surfing for solid ground, where “hot spots” offer the service at no charge.

Airlines have offered promotions, including some free service, to draw attention to their Wi-Fi. But experts say only about 10% of pax on Web-enabled flights have taken
advantage.

Airline technology consultant Michael Planey thinks Wi-Fi will be free as early as mid-2011, and carriers will work on ways to cover the cost, perhaps through sponsorship by big companies who would make money through advertisements.

Oculus: An Eye into St Paul’s

St Paul’s Cathedral in London this week opened a 270-degree film experience, the first project of its kind in a cathedral.

Oculus: An Eye into St Paul’s uses projection technology to immerse visitors in the stories and 1,400-year history of the cathedral. It shows visitors what Saxon London and the first St Paul’s building must have been like in AD604. The story
includes the Great Fire of London in 1666, after which the existing cathedral was built by Sir Christopher Wren. Visitors will also see London during the Blitz, when for many people St Paul’s became a symbol of strength, survival and hope.

Two virtual access films open up areas of the cathedral that visitors with mobility issues might not otherwise be able to reach. The first film flies visitors through the dome, the Whispering Gallery and the Golden Gallery with its panoramic views across the city. A second film reveals Wren’s room-sized Great Model. Four-metre high projections take visitors into the interior of the model to show it in close-up
detail.

First the Zorb, now the Zurf

RotoruaNZ.com reports that, after a number of years of finetuning the design, ZORB has announced the launch of its latest product, the ZURF. A 3m x 3m inflatable cylinder with two open ends, the Zurf allows riders to climb inside the 1.8m interior and roll the ZURF around. The ZURF can safely hold three adults or up to five children.

Designed using similar technology and manufacturing processes to that of the ZORB globe, the ZURF is a durable, quality, NZ-made product. Its design enables a wide range of uses. The ZURF is a versatile amusement device available to the public for use as a fun activity on flat ground, or sheltered bodies of water. It is not designed for rolling down hills.