A company called Zodiac Seats France has patented what is perhaps the dumbest — or at least the most unpleasant — airplane seating configuration of all time. Wired has the scoop.

The goal of the design is “to increase cabin density while also creating seat units that increase the space available at the shoulder and arm area.” To be fair, it seems to do that-because you’re no longer facing the same direction as your immediate neighbor, you have more shoulder room. And if you’re traveling with your kid or spouse, being face-to-face can be nice (we guess).

But if you’re around the sort of people one usually sits next to on airplanes, it would be horrible. At least if you’re all facing the same direction, you can pretend they don’t exist. Here, if you’re a human with peripheral vision, fat chance of that. We were horrified a few months ago at Airbus’ patent for a virtual reality helmet to mask the pain of being airborne in economy. Now it sounds like a decent idea.

As far as U.S. regulators are concerned, I don’t know that this design would ever fly (seewhatIdidthere?). Although, let’s face it, this probably isn’t even the craziest thing a Patent Lawyer would see on any given day. Regardless, it seems like it would be hell to evacuate in case of an emergency.

But rest assured, if somehow, somewhere, some airline adopts this Sid Meier’s Civilization approach to seating, Amtrak will be seeing a sharp uptick in business.