Another plan to satisfy airlines' seemingly insatiable desire to squeeze more passengers onto an aircraft.
(http://cdn.citylab.com/media/img/citylab/2015/07/airplane1/lead_large.jpg?1436555948)
(https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2015/07/airplane2/25fc934b7.png)
Full article: http://www.citylab.com/commute/2015/07/the-most-hellish-design-for-airplane-seating-yet/398285/
Funny - I saw this a week or two ago and had the opposite reaction. Yes, the seats themselves look uncomfortable (hard plastic), but as a person who is 6'6" tall, the additional leg room appealed to me (plus, the seats are reputedly wider).
As I understand it, this was mooted as a solution for shorter flights. I don't mind looking at another person for an hour or two. It's no worse than being shoved up next to some stranger, rubbing shoulders as it is.
I think this would be the point where most passengers wouldn't put up with it anymore. It's bad enough now when someone who is 5'8" has their knees into the seat in front of them.
I would be surprised if that seating design is ever actually used.