Editing What Happened to Window Technology

What happened to the grand dreams of advanced window technology we heard about 30 years ago? We were all told to expect window innovations that would revolutionize our lives. We were told to expect specific things like windows that could open and close themselves according to a schedule or by some smart technology that would regulate inside temperature better. There is also speculation of windows that would darken or lighten to filter light, heat and UV by merely turning a knob or flipping a switch. Yet here we are decades after those promises were made with limited window technology available.<br /><br />About the only window technology open to consumers that is readily available and cost effective is low e glass or multiple thermal pane windows. Sure we are able to apply electric motors for some types of windows, or add different films to windows to achieve different degrees of darkening but we don't really consider these as high technology promise fulfillment.<br /><br />When I believe of hi-tech windows I have a tendency to think of specific things like star trek. OK so Star trek might be a little outrageous but when the idea of high tech windows involves mind I tend to think of greater than a simple window that opened with a crank handle or sash pull. Granted windows have come quite a distance in technology that people don't see. Low e glass is one that we often don't think about. A technology that is around for quite some time, it cuts down on the harmful UV light that enters our homes fading our carpets and furniture, it also reduces the quantity of excess heat during warmer weather cutting cooling costs by a large percentage. It can also be used, depending on the way the film is put on the window, to reflect heat back to the home during cold months thus saving on heating costs.<br /><br />I could remember as a child seeing those late fifties early sixties news real type shows that depicted the home into the future with smart appliances as well as smart windows and doors. Much of those demonstrates handled early concepts and early ideas about how technology might be found in the future have seen those ideas arrived at fruition.<br /><br />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 of age and adopted some type of smart technology. But what happened to the innovations we were told would be coming for windows?<br /><br />S P G or switchable privacy glass was one innovation that was predicted to be commonplace in the house by the year 2000. That technology does exist but isn't commonplace. Photo gray windows like the glass found in optical lenses were believed would also be commonplace right now but are not.<br /><br />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 generally still very costly to be commonplace in consumer windows. It is however a technology that is in use in a few commercial applications.<br /><br />Other technology such as for example switchable privacy glass has actually made it into consumer based product production at one time or another but with not a lot of success. Not for lack of fascination with the technology by in large but instead due to the failure of the technology to meet the needs of consumers or just the failure of the technology to provide as promised.<br /><br />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 due to 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 the very least in favor of an auto tinting window technology which is still under development.<br /><br />Other window companies aswell have had similar experiences with switchable privacy glass. However [https://cutt.ly/h5AKhuE tuberculosis treatment and prevention] isn't dead actually it has had a recent revival at Indiana university where in fact the largest switchable privacy glass project ever undertaken has been complete on medical Information and Transitional Sciences Building using SPD light control film produced by Hitachi.<br /><br />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 are first proven in the industry arena.<br /><br />A lot of what were once regarded as "space age" window technologies attended to be realities, but not many of them have grown to be consumer affordable realities yet, and I stress the word yet.<br /><br />Scott Best is really a freelance Author in colaboration with Brand New Windows.Com [http://brandnewwindows.com]. Scott Writes for most websites.<br /><br />With his unique perspective on many issues and topics Scott lends a higher degree of professionalism to the topics he writes about. Learn more about Scott at his site. Scott Best Articles