Will this new smart window ruin the future flying experience?

Just when you thought you could escape from the world of electronic screens by peering out an airplane window, think again — Airbus has patented a window-less touchscreen fuselage.

The filing calls it an "interactive aircraft cabin window display system and a method for interactive visualization of information," and diagrams an interactive window screen that would replace or enhance an existing window — or, as the above photo exemplifies, the entire surface could eventually be transformed if the technology catches on.

The interactive glass is primarily for the user to tap and explore more about the destinations below. Further applications could be for learning about the destination and perhaps even engaging with in-destination offerings like restaurants, hotels and activities.

Let us be the first to say this out loud: we don't want this. We're already beset and overwhelmed with screens as it is — can you imagine flying on a 12 hour flight, powerless to control the experience as your seatmate taps, pinches and zooms on a fuselage-wide screen? No thank you! Let's all just marvel at the world from 30,000 feet and leave the tapping to smaller personal entertainment devices.

This also isn't the first virtual surface to be sent down to the patent office — Airbus published another patent last year for "a viewing surface for piloting which is at least partially virtual." The idea is to deliver a more sophisticated heads-up display that could liberate airlines from having to place the cockpit up front and covered with expensive and heavy glazed windows. This sounds more hopeful than realistic, but then again, the airlines will pursue it relentlessly if it makes airline design more profitable.