KrisWorld

KrisWorld is Singapore Airlines' in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. It is an advanced system that is available in all classes of service on all aircraft of SIA. It currently has three versions operational and was introduced in 1995.

History

During 1993 and 1994, SIA was looking for a new IFE system that it could offer to its passengers. During this time, only two major airlines had a full-fledged IFE system for all passengers and classes - Emirates and Virgin Atlantic. However, Singapore Airlines wanted a more advanced, less costly system with more than 10 channels of video programming. They were looking for a system that worked on a digital-network platform, passed Federal Aviation Administration tests and was central for programming updates and upgrades in future. This IFE system was made by Panasonic Avionics Corporation (previously incorporated as Matsushita Avionics Systems).

After being impressed with the quality and offerings, they signed a deal to retrofit their Megatop Boeing 747-400 aircraft with the system. This retrofit began in 1995 and was completed by 1996-1997. The Celestar Airbus A340-300 and Jubilee Boeing 777 aircraft, when delivered, had KrisWorld pre-installed into every seat. SIA installed KrisWorld into every seat for every new aircraft delivered thereafter.

By 2000, the Boeing 747-400 Megatop, Celestar A340-300 and Jubilee Boeing 777 were the only aircraft to have the system for all classes. The other aircraft - Boeing 747-300, and Airbus A310 did not have this system; however, these aircraft were later retired or leased to other airlines. That same year, SIA introduced Wisemen 3000 into the First and Raffles classes to coincide with the introduction of the First SkySuites and Raffles Class Ultimo seats.

Original KrisWorld

The original KrisWorld, introduced in 1995, was available to all three classes of service. It featured:

* KrisVision - which included 14 movies, 36 television favourites and five cartoons.
* KrisSound - with 12 stereo audio channels.
* KrisGames - provided by Nintendo
* Fax and KrisFone - fax was available in certain sections, KrisFone was offered in every seat.
* FlightPath
* Destinations
* Text News
* KrisWorld double-sided handset - one side audio and video controls, and the other - the KrisFone.

The original KrisWorld has since been updated to Wisemen 3000 for first- and business-class passengers or enhanced Krisworld for all classes.

KrisWorld with Wisemen 3000

With the introduction of the new First Class Sky Suites and the Ultimo Seats in Raffles Class, SIA decided to upgrade the IFE entertainment experience for those classes, by installing Wisemen 3000.

Wisemen 3000 was the Matsushita Avionics Systems 3000i IFE system that supported Audio/Video on Demand (AVOD). Because of this, new features include:

* Increase of programs - estimated 30 movies, 20 television favourites and 10 cartoons
* Audio and Video on Demand
* 14-inch screen in First Class

Economy Class still had the old version with cycle programming.

KrisWorld with Wisemen 3000 is available on:

* Boeing 777-200 aircraft (9V-SRA to I - 2 classes; 9V-SQA to H - 3 classes)
* Boeing 777-300 aircraft (9V-SYA to E)

Enhanced KrisWorld

In 2002, Singapore Airlines slowly began introducing the enhanced version of KrisWorld. This included increasing the amount of programming and offering AVOD to economy-class passengers. Features included:

* Increase of programmes - estimated 50 movies, 30 TV favourites and 20 cartoons.
* In 2004, SIA increased again the programming to over 60 movies, 100 TV favourites and 30 cartoons.
* 225 Music Albums
* Bigger screens in Raffles Class (SpaceBed).
* More games - 20-30 PC, Nintendo, with multi-player capability.
* AVOD in all classes
* Berlitz World Traveller - learn a language

Enhanced KrisWorld is available on:

* All Boeing 747-400 aircraft
* Selected Boeing 777-200/300 aircraft (9V-SRJ to Q - 2 classes; 9V-SQI to N - 3 classes; 9V-SYF to L; all 9V-SV*s

New KrisWorld

In 2007, SIA unveiled [New Krisworld; [http://au.sys-con.com/read/443193.htm "Innovation Marks the Unveiling of the World's First A380 Interior"] ] the new KrisWorld based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux [linuxworld.com [http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2007/082207-worldbeat-singapore-airlines-puts-a.html "Singapore Airlines puts a Linux PC in every seat"] ] . This featured a new interface, more programming, Audio/Video on Demand as standard. On top of the new features available, first-class passengers get a 23-inch LCD PTV; 15-inch PTV in Business Class and a 10.6 inch PTV in Economy Class - all widescreen. Features include:

* 100 Movies.
* 180 Popular Television Programmes.
* 700 Music CDs.
* 3D Games - Singapore Airlines is the first airline in the world to offer this.
* Nintendo Games.
* Berlitz World Traveller - learn a language
* USB flash drive plug in and Ethernet.
* LED flash light under the PTV in Economy Class for non-intrusive light.
* New Interface coded by James Titcumb from [http://www.airborneinteractive.com/ Airborne Interactive] [cite web |title=James Titcumb's Blog |url=http://www.asgrim.com/ |accessdate=2008-06-04] .
* Office software in every seat (StarOffice). [cite web |author=robs.au |title=Airbus A380 StarOffice |work=Aircraft Photos (Set) |publisher=Flickr |date=2008-03-18 |url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/robs-au/2342477319/ |accessdate=2008-03-30]
* New Panasonic eX2 handset with digital channel-number designation (Economy).
* New Panasonic ex2 handset with colour interface (First and Business).
* Double-sided handset (audio and video controls on one side and keyboard on the other).

New KrisWorld is available on:

* All Boeing 777-300ER aircraft
* All Airbus A380 aircraft
* All Airbus A340-500 aircraft

Future of KrisWorld

Singapore Airlines is rumoured to be introducing a brand-new KrisWorld on all aircraft once the Airbus A330-300 arrives. Since the A340-500 aircraft are being retrofitted and the A330 aircraft will feature new interiors, Singapore Airlines has been rumoured to be looking at a new standard short-haul business and economy class with new KrisWorld to bring all aircraft into line.

This also saves money and time on servicing and updating.

References