In our wired world, the chance for waking, peaceful solitude is a rare and somewhat precious thing.

For many, one of the last places to find it is aboard a plane during a long flight. The cabin of an aircraft becomes a sanctuary – a personal space for thinking, writing, and quiet entertainment, detached from the demands of daily life.

No Wi-Fi here: How far you have to travel to not be bothered by an internet connection.Credit: Chris Zappone

Now, in the name of progress, that sanctuary is at risk. The culprit: in-flight Wi-Fi.

Part of the joy of flying has always been the freedom it offers – the solitude to work, to think, to just be, and to view at a distance life outside an endless stream of updates on screens.

It’s even a place to simply be bored, which is a privilege in an era when we lament that wired children no longer know this impetus for discovery, adventure and connection.

Nothing brings you back down to earth from that idle (and strangely satisfying) state as quickly as an internet connection.

You turn on your computer, check your emails, and can see in........

© WA Today