Notes

What Happened to Window Technology?
What happened to the grand dreams of advanced window technology we found out about 30 years back? We were all told to expect window innovations that could revolutionize our lives. We were told to anticipate such things as windows that could open and close themselves in accordance with a schedule or by some smart technology that would regulate inside temperature more effectively. There is also speculation of windows that could darken or lighten to filter light, heat and UV by merely turning a knob or flipping a switch. Yet here we have been decades after those promises were made out of limited window technology available.

Concerning the only window technology open to consumers that is easily available and affordable is low e glass or multiple thermal pane windows. Sure we can apply electric motors to some types of windows, or add different films to windows to accomplish different examples of darkening but we don't really consider these as high technology promise fulfillment.

When I think of high tech windows I tend to think of specific things like star trek. OK so Star trek might be a little over the top but when the idea of high tech windows comes to mind I have a tendency to think of greater than a simple window that opened with a crank handle or sash pull. Granted windows attended quite a distance in technology that people don't see. Low e glass is one which we often don't believe about. A technology that is around for several years, it cuts down on the harmful UV light that enters our homes fading our carpets and furniture, it also reduces the amount of excess heat during warmer weather cutting cooling costs by way of a large percentage. It can also be used, depending on how the film is put on the window, to reflect heat back to the home during cold months thus saving on heating costs.

I could remember as a child seeing those late fifties early sixties news real type demonstrates depicted the home into the future with smart appliances and smart doors and windows. Much of those implies that handled early concepts and early ideas about how technology might be found in the future have observed those ideas arrived at fruition.

You can get into almost any home and find smart appliances such as refrigerators and ranges, heating and air conditioning systems, even water heaters and washing machines. All of these types of appliances have come old and adopted some type of smart technology. But what happened to the innovations we were told will be coming for windows?

S P G or switchable privacy glass was one innovation that has been predicted to be commonplace in the house by the entire year 2000. That technology does exist but isn't commonplace. Photo gray windows including the glass used in optical lenses were believed would also be commonplace right now but are not.

The specific photo gray technology like this found in optical lenses became too expensive for window application. But other tinting or automatic darkening technology does exist but is normally still too expensive to be commonplace in consumer windows. It really is however a technology that is in use in some commercial applications.

Other technology such as for example switchable privacy glass has actually managed to get into consumer based product production at once or another but with not a lot of success. Not for lack of fascination with the technology by in large but rather because of the failure of the technology to meet up the requirements of consumers or just the failure of the technology to provide as promised.

The Milgard window company actually put a version of smart switchable privacy glass windows into production for consumer windows. The windows appeared to be well received but Milgard was forced to abandon production because of technology failures resulting in an unacceptable rate of return and general dissatisfaction of consumers with the merchandise. They have abandoned the idea for now at least in favor of an auto tinting window technology which is still under development.

Other window companies as well experienced similar experiences with switchable privacy glass. However the idea isn't dead in fact it has had a recent revival at Indiana university w here the largest switchable privacy glass project ever undertaken has been complete on the Health Information and Transitional Sciences Building using SPD light control film made by Hitachi.

Although this again is a commercial application for a new technology it speaks of hope for future consumer window products. In most cases, new technologies that arrive in the consumer market place are first proven in the commercial arena.

Many of what were once regarded as "space age" window technologies have come to be realities, but not many of them have grown to be consumer affordable realities yet, and I stress the term yet.

Scott Best is a freelance Author in association with Brand New Windows.Com [http://brandnewwindows.com]. Scott Writes for many websites.

Along with his unique perspective on many issues and topics Scott lends a high level of professionalism to the topics he writes about. Learn more about Scott at his site. Scott Best Articles
Here's my website: https://fliphtml5.com/homepage/nggov