Just noticed this for the first time. While boarding a flight in Portland earlier this week, caught this smart and seemingly simple idea near the gate. Best I can tell, it appeared to be the product of a company called FSH, and surprisingly enough not connected to Netflix, Blockbuster or any other more widespread rental/streaming company (or in blockbusters case, perhaps not that surprising after all). Anyway, basically it’s a small kiosk at the gate, not some elaborate ‘entertainment’ store somewhere far off in the terminal, that allows you to wire up your laptop and grab movies for the flight in case you forgot to ready yourself with iTunes content/airport wifi not cooperating/etc.

 Easy step by step process for the traveler who can barely see straight, let alone deal with a kiosk that isn’t built to just plug in and work.

Sure, not the most high tech option, or prettiest tech in the world to be sure, but really as long as it works, that’s not really a major (or at the least, not the only) criteria at that point in time and for that need.

Good way to make the miserable flight experience a little better for the weary biz traveler who forgot to prep themselves with entertainment. Nothing flashy, no major show about it, just simple idea and simple tech that makes the flying experience better. Not much more to ask for. And a smart idea on Portland Airport’s part, rather than waiting for Netflix’s seemingly slow airport expansion of Redbox, or Blockbusters forthcoming airport kiosk system.

Posted via email from avin narasimhan | Comment »