High-Definition Screen Time

Massive, high-definition screens are transforming yacht interiors like never before.

This article was written by Rachel Ingram. Photography courtesy of the manufacturers.

As technology continues to play an increasingly important role in the lives of yacht owners, digitization is seeping more and more into their vessels.

Onboard tech has advanced so much that digital accessories have become as common to yachts as pools and we’re talking about more than television screens. The most innovative modern vessels are being outfitted with features that enhance the guest experience in ways never seen before. From digital walls and statement cinemas to interactive art and virtual windows, here’s how today’s tech-savvy owners are embracing the latest innovations and what the future could look like.

DIGITAL WALLS

When the three-year rebuild of Oceanco’s superyacht H was unveiled, there were many novel features she could’ve been praised for her lengthened hull, her statement waterfall, her modern interiors but for technophiles, her standout feature is a one-of-a-kind digital aquarium. Created by designers at British studio Reymond Langton, this ten-meter “video corridor” is made up of a series of LED screens that curve around a wall, giving guests the feeling of being underwater. It’s one of the most beautiful pieces of moving art seen onboard a yacht since the interactive forest wall created by American/British designer Zaniz for Benetti superyacht Luminosity.

When Luminosity was launched in 2020, the digital artwork, titled 264 Flowers in Motion, was an industry first. The screen is embedded with sensors that react to movement and is programmed with scenes including trees that “sway” in the “wind”, Corian magnolia that bloom and close, and pretty butterflies that follow guests as they climb the adjacent staircase.

STATEMENT CINEMAS

Recent years have seen an influx of incredible onboard cinema experiences powered by the world’s newest silver screen technology, from the first-ever IMAX private theater on a yacht onboard Feadship’s Lady S, to Samsung’s revolutionary “The Wall” screen as seen on as Heesen’s Ultra G, and the incredible projector that powers the al fresco cinema on iconic Perini Navi sailing yacht Maltese Falcon, where movies are projected onto the giant sail.

One of the most recent and most impressive examples of cinematic viewing can be found on the foredeck of Tankoa motor yacht Grey. The bow has been transformed into an incredible outdoor theater, where a giant retractable cinema screen towers over a glass-encased pool. The high-luminosity, 144-inch screen is paired with a surround-sound system, giving guests a true cinema experience whether they’re watching their favorite films from the water or from the comfy sofas that flank the pool.

VIRTUAL WINDOWS

Beyond showing movies, screens are increasingly being used to project live views of the world outside of the yacht. For instance, instead of disrupting the hull by cutting a window, some yachts are choosing instead to ft “virtual windows”. Such screens can be seen onboard vessels including Wally’s wallypower58, whose cabin features “magic portholes” that relay real-time images from external cameras a smart solution for smaller yachts or reft projects that wish to create the illusion of large windows while keeping hull lines crisp and pure.

Virtual windows are also used to aid activities such as sportfishing. This is best seen on Ultra G, where a special fisherman’s lounge is kitted out with screens showing live feedback from “ fish cams” attached to the bottom of the yacht, giving guests transparency on the best places and times to drop their rods.

LOOKING FORWARD

As technology continues to evolve, we’re likely to see digital elements integrate even more seamlessly and creatively in yacht design. It’s anticipated that in the not-too-distant future, we could see owners project their personal art collections into their yachts, display holograms of their prized NFTs, and experiment more with digital wallpapers and virtual windows.

Concept yachts such as Project Amplitude are already showcasing what the next era of digitization could look like. The concept by Anthony Glasson at M51 Yacht Design features LED screens that cover the entire bridge deck forward wall, where guests could choose to stream a live view from the bow or create an immersive cinema. Similar screens are also imagined for the cabins, where guests could sleep surrounded by stars in the comfort of their beds.

The only limit to possibility is technology, but with the digital world ever evolving, it seems nothing is impossible for long.

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