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Airports continue to undergo costly upgrades to add new technologies

As airports continue to find ways to accommodate air passengers, some airports seek to gain a technological edge to help offer passengers more amenities.  In the heart of Silicon Valley, for example, the Mineta San Jose International Airport has undergone a billion-dollar renovation to improve its infrastructure.

The new upgrades are a blend of services for passengers and better equipment for employees at the airport.  Some chairs in the San Jose airport have power and USB ports built directly into the chairs, which is something basic that hasn't been done in many airports.

Messages are displayed on energy-efficient screens manufactured by Wyse Technology, and the airport is rolling out a custom digital paging system.  Airline carriers are able to easily share information between ticket counters and departure gates, using a system based on products from Cisco Systems and VMware.

The boarding areas have plenty of power outlets in walls, pillars and chair armrests throughout the airport.

"We consider this the most technically advanced airport in the United States," said airport spokesperson David Vossbrink.

I've never flown to or from Mineta, but I think it's very interesting to see airports revolutionize.  I'm happy in any airport that provides a power source and somewhat reliable wireless Internet service -- everything else is just seen as a bonus.  Since I'm closer to San Francisco International Airport and the Oakland International Airport, I'm still not going to fly from San Jose just because of the technology.

Some airports such as the San Francisco International Airport are just now catching up on the Wi-Fi craze, while others are trying to push the boundaries.