Experience it live: Passenger information conveniently displayed
This innovative technology for window systems for trains and buses will be showcased at the ZEISS stand (LVCC, North Hall 10149) in Las Vegas. HÜBNER experts will be on hand to demonstrate to customers and other interested parties how passengers can receive information comfortably and directly in their field of vision with holographic optical elements.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to present our innovative technology for window systems in public transportation in collaboration with our esteemed partner ZEISS at CES 2025, one of the most significant trade shows in North America,” states Ingolf Cedra, Managing Director of the HÜBNER Group.“Our aim is to encourage greater interest in the use of public transportation. We are confident that innovations such as holographic display technology for window systems will enhance comfort, the travel experience, and customer satisfaction.”
Despite cell phone apps, display media in buses and trains in demand
Providing passenger information is a crucial aspect of ensuring customer satisfaction in the public transportation sector. This is validated by a study conducted by the Technical University of Darmstadt and DB Regio AG, which examined the needs and information behavior of passengers in regional rail passenger transport. The study revealed that over 30% of respondents indicated that they primarily obtained information during their journey from media sources on the train. Almost 60 percent of respondents indicated support for providing additional information regarding disruptions via collective media on the train.
A study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE) reached comparable findings. Despite the availability of digital applications on cell phones, the majority of passengers anticipate real-time information within the vehicle regarding the route, position, and connection options.
Holography offers advantages for transportation operators
“Holographic display technology for window systems provides transit operators with significant advantages over conventional technologies such as OLED systems, enabling them to better serve passenger needs,” explains Ingolf Cedra.“Holographic displays can be retrofitted at any time, require less energy, and take up less space in the vehicle because no elaborate, space-consuming technology is needed. Furthermore, they offer high image resolution and brightness.”
The technology for holographic applications is integrated directly into the window systems, offering users a flexible and straightforward way to project content. Information regarding the next few stops can be displayed with the same ease as information about the nearest shops or tourist attractions along the route. Holographic displays are temperature-resistant and significantly more robust than traditional displays. The direct integration of the projection surfaces into the window panes provides enhanced protection against vandalism.
Long-term cooperation
“Thanks to our long-term collaboration with the HÜBNER Group in various areas, we have created a valuable win-win situation for both partners in terms of technology and applications,” states Dr. Viktor Schütz, Head of Partnership Management at ZEISS Microoptics. “Our multifunctional smart glass technology is ideally suited for use as an interaction and information surface in combination with the large transparent window areas in vehicles. By embedding our holographic technology, we can offer passengers in public transportation a completely new travel experience that has not existed in this form before, with virtually unlimited application possibilities.”
Photonics expertise for public transportation
The HÜBNER Group is leveraging the expertise of its youngest business unit, Photonics, in a novel way: by applying holographic displays in window systems to its core business area of public transportation. In a related development, ZEISS is utilizing tunable lasers from HÜBNER Photonics for the manufacture of holographic optical elements. The holographic optical elements are subsequently incorporated into HÜBNER window systems.
