Jamco and NTT Sonority collaborate on "Personalized Sound Zone" for in-flight entertainment

TOKYO - Jamco Corporation and NTT Group, both based in Japan, have announced they are collaborating on a headphone-free way for passengers to enjoy in-flight entertainment (IFE).

Jamco is an aerospace interior products supplier and integrator and NTT Sonority is an affiliate of NTT Group, Japan's largest telecommunications company.

The duo is researching and developing its "Personalized Sound Zone" (PSZ) by embedding speakers in each aircraft's headrests to enable the passenger to listen to audio on the commercial flight. Jamco says only the passenger in the seat will be able to hear the audio and enable the flight crew to make in-flight announcements without passengers having to remove headphones.

In addition, Jamco says the PSZ technology will reduce cleaning time by eliminating loaned headphones and wires.