Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Multimedia Windowpanes

Posted by michael on from the through-the-looking-glass dept.

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''."

6 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. Great Idea... by scot4875 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Great idea, until someone puts a baseball through your living room Window.

    --Jeremy

    --
    Jesus was a liberal
  2. And when you lose power... by Rorschach1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

  3. It works both ways by Jason1729 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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

  4. Window as a projection screen? by will592 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Why not just have a projection screen lower itself in front of the window? Is there really a problem this technology is trying to solve? If you have to have a video projection system anyways, why wouldn't you want a high quality projection screen who watch the video on? And build in the wall gimmicky speakers? I would think that people willing to spend this kind of money would rather have high end speakers.

    Chris

  5. Is it efficient? by Mike+McTernan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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
  6. Glass is fiarly strong by bluGill · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.