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 specific things like 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 would darken or lighten to filter out 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.

Concerning the only window technology available 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 to some types of windows, or add different films to windows to attain different examples of darkening but we don't really consider these as high technology promise fulfillment.

When I believe of hi-tech windows I have a tendency to think of such things as star trek. OK so Star trek may be a little outrageous but when the idea of high tech windows comes to mind I have a tendency to think of more than a simple window that opened with a crank handle or sash pull. Granted windows have come a long way in technology that we don't see. Low e glass is one that we often don't believe about. A technology that is around for many years, it significantly reduces 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 the way the film is applied to the window, to reflect heat back to the house during cold months thus saving on heating costs.

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 and smart doors and windows. Much of those demonstrates handled early concepts and early ideas about how exactly technology might be used in the future have observed those ideas arrived at fruition.

You can get into almost any home and discover 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 would be coming for windows?

S P G or switchable privacy glass was one innovation that has been predicted to be commonplace in the home 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 by now but are not.

The specific photo gray technology like that used in optical lenses became too expensive for window application. But other tinting or automatic darkening technology does exist but is normally still very costly 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 one time or another but with not a lot of success. Not for lack of interest in the technology by in large but rather due to failure of the technology to meet 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 due to technology failures leading to 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 a car 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 recently available 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 made by Hitachi.

Although this again is really a commercial application for a fresh technology it speaks of expect future consumer window products. Generally speaking, new technologies that get to the consumer market are first proven in the industry 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 word yet.

Scott Best is a freelance Author in colaboration with COMPLETELY NEW Windows.Com [1]. 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. Know more about Scott at his site. Scott Best Articles