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Multimedia Windowpanes
prostoalex writes "Washington Post talks about recent innovations in the world of windows (yes, lowercase). A Minnesota company is offering windows that double as entertainment centers, being used as projection screens for home entertainment systems and DVD players. A Yale professor is quoted to be excited about new product: 'One minute you're looking out your bay window at your neighbor's back yard, and the next you're watching Tom Cruise and 'Top Gun''."
Great idea, until someone puts a baseball through your living room Window.
--Jeremy
Jesus was a liberal
Does this mean that my neighbors will be able to see what I'm watching? This will invariably lead to copyright violation if somebody tries to watch a movie - there will be no such thing as a "private screening." Plus, if the window is big enough, one's parents will know that one is watching porn before they even enter the driveway.
You don't even have sunlight. That's right, the windows are opaque when there ISN'T a current flowing through them! Better have an UPS on your window or it's going to get really dark when the power goes out.
One minute you're looking out your bay window at your neighbor's back yard, and the next you're watching Tom Cruise and 'Top Gun'
This is a projection screen between the panes of glass, so one minute you neighbor's watching you sitting in your living room, and the next minute he's watching a mirror image of Top Gun
Won't the glass of the window create a glare problem? The wall beside the window probably makes a much better projection screen.
Jason
ProfQuotes
Chris
The whole window / tv screen thing has been a staple of futuristic anime for a while now, as well as a lot of standard sci-fi, if I'm not mistaken.
It is definitely more of a "Japanese" techology in the sense that it combines the functions of two things, saving both space and money. A boon for all of us who are cramped into tiny one-bedroom apartments.
for great justice, this sig has been moved
When the current is on, the window is clear. But flip a switch to turn the current off and the glass goes opaque
Hmmm, shame it isn't the otherway around - sounds like it's going to waste lots of juice given that the window is probably going to be in 'clear' mode 99% of the time.
-- Mike
Remember Arnold's house at the start of Total Recall? They lived in what was essentially a window-less house. Yet the house had many window-like projection panes that displayed realistic outdoor scenery with picture-in-picture tv news, etc.
That's probably what these people are aiming for.
Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, START
That comment isn't as intelligent as it sounds. Modern tempered glass doesn't breaky very easially, and can stand up to baseballs. And that is assuming it is even glass, some windows are actually plastic, which can be bullet proof! Patio doors wouldn't be possible without that. (Or at least not as most houses have them with a patio door installed, but no deck outside since a kid could break through regular glass and fall several floors) Modern windows are a lot more complex than glass in a frame. Fortunatly they work just like the old type, just better.
I'm not trying to imply that you can't break this glass, because you can. However you can beat a patio door with a sledge hammer and not be sure of it breaking.