Georgia Tindale takes a deep dive into the world of onboard interactive technology to scout out what the owners of tomorrow are looking for from their vessels
In the 25 years since Robbie Williams released the song which gives this article its title – from his chart-topping album Life thru a Lens – technology has undergone immeasurable changes and development, playing a larger and more vital role in our everyday lives than almost anyone (except, perhaps forward-thinking science fiction writers), could ever have anticipated.
Although yachting has, at times, been accused of being slow to adapt as an industry, recent leaps in onboard technology blow this accusation out of the water. Developments in satellite technology enable owners, guests and crew to enjoy connectivity as if they were ashore, with continual advancements in onboard systems helping to create a holistic and interactive ‘infotainment’ experience for owners and guests.
On the other hand, there is also the drive towards remote exploration from many of today’s owners, who may be looking for their onboard tech to be discreet, enabling them to disconnect from the daily influx of notifications and enjoy more ‘real’ experiences than can ever be found on an iPad. With this in mind, we speak to experts from across the industry to move beyond the noise and discover what the next generation of owners is really looking for from their onboard tech. 
A clear trend identified by superyacht AV/IT expert Edwin Edelenbos – former Manager of Innovation at Oceanco – is an enhanced interest from owners in learning about what is happening in the engine rooms, wheelhouses and tender garages of their yachts.
As Edelenbos explains: “Today’s yacht owners are increasingly tech savvy as well as being more experience-driven and this is causing a renewed focus on using technology to enhance their time on board. With the tools for creating attractive data visualisations, as well as machine learning systems becoming more democratised, information is becoming much more relevant to owners and a more integrated part of the yachting experience, both as part of the entertainment system, and in its own right.”
Keep it simple - and pretty 
“If you buy a €30,000 car today, you can have a much cooler interface than can be found on a €100 million yacht, but that is going to change. Following the purchase of YachtEye in 2020, SuperYacht Times bought the smart yacht operating system EsSense AI in 2021. With the technology from EsSense AI, we are now building the next generation AI-driven YachtEye, which will be unveiled later this year.”
A starter for charter
Although, as noted by almost all of our commentators, owners will vary in how much they want to personally engage with this interactive technology, – with some opting to leave it more or less in the hands of crew – when it comes to charter, the case for guests benefitting from interactive technology is clear.
As Zeb Robin, Technical Director at yachting technology consultancy company Bond TM explains: “On charter vessels, interactive infotainment platforms are almost a necessity, as they provide a great way for guests to get information about the voyage, request food and beverages, see the dinner menu, and generally interact with their luxury journey experience. They do take some effort from the crew to manage and operate, but it can really pay off for charters.”
Familiar and invisible
Alongside this desire for familiarity, there is also a clear demand for all onboard technology to be as discreet as possible. In practice, this also means that all onboard technology requirements need to be integrated into the vessel’s design as early as is practical, as well-known Italian superyacht design maestro Francesco Paszkowski explains: “As a studio, our work often involves adapting what is necessary for the interior design to fulfil the technological needs of the owner, and so this must be discussed early on in the design stage.”
Future horizons
As for the future of interactive technology on board superyachts, the possibilities are limitless. This could include owners projecting their personal art collections onto TV screens – which Bond TM has seen a “small amount of uptake” from clients so far, according to Robin. Furthermore, this can also include the integration of other contemporary technological developments into marine systems, as Hind explains: “Navigation systems are starting to use cameras and augmented reality to superimpose information onto a visual display for users to see.”
In sum, interactive technology looks set to adapt in a direction which best meets the needs of tomorrow’s clients – and, interestingly enough, there is a group of tech-savvy owners who may well be responsible for spearheading these changes themselves. As De Waard highlights: “Some of the owners who are buying these really big boats have made their money in the technology industry, so we could see some really cool developments being pushed by these individuals in the future.”
This article was originally published in Issue 40 of SuperYacht Times newspaper. To read more stories like this one and to never again miss another issue of the SuperYacht Times newspaper, subscribe here.