How did the fish tank at Melbourne airport work?

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#95089 27-Dec-2011 08:44

Being Christmas, I was thinking about how good it was this year not to have to spend 8 hours travelling to Hobart, now that the in-laws have moved back to Wellington.
Anyways, it reminded me of the fish tank that was at Melbourne airport, which is still an unexplained technological mystery for me..

Every few minutes the water or glass instantly become opaque, then a few minutes later would instantly clear. I'm not aware of any technology that would give that effect.

Surely one of you geeks can shed some light on how it worked? Was it a real fish tank?

Cloudmelon

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#561725 27-Dec-2011 08:53

I have not been there, but there are special windows you can buy that have a substance between the two sheets of glass (quartz i think), when you pass current through this glass is causes the substance to become opaque.

Im not 100% on this, but I certain you can get windows that do this. Have seen them in a show home, very very cool.

sbiddle

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#561727 27-Dec-2011 08:57

While I haven't seen it either it'll be the glass being tinted when an electrical charge is applied. This is exactly the same technology used in some smart homes and buildings to tint windows, and is also used in the new Boeing 787 which has no window shades, simply buttons.

hairy1

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#561735 27-Dec-2011 09:41

sbiddle: While I haven't seen it either it'll be the glass being tinted when an electrical charge is applied. This is exactly the same technology used in some smart homes and buildings to tint windows, and is also used in the new Boeing 787 which has no window shades, simply buttons.

Yeah, software to control the window shades. Who would have thunk it. I forgot to check out the window shades when I was on the 787 when it was in Auckland. I was too busy checking out the virtual circuit breakers! But that is getting off topic!

Where is the fish tank at Melbourne? Is it still there?

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MackinNZ

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#561751 27-Dec-2011 10:16

A couple of years ago I visited the Eureka Tower in Melbourne and on the level 88 observation deck, "The Edge", a glass room that extends out the side of the building, is apparrently made of opaque glass, untill it's fully extended and then the glass suddenly turns clear and you find yourself standing on a clear glass floor.

I imagine that it's the same system as Cloudmelon mentioned.

http://www.eurekaskydeck.com.au/the-edge.html

Oblivian

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#561753 27-Dec-2011 10:19

Same effect on glass floor on Q1 I thinkith.. Push button, NO MORE FLOOR!

/edit Beatn' lol

LennonNZ

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#561775 27-Dec-2011 11:32

Its called smart/switchable Glass

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_glass

I have no idea how much it is but it can't be cheap..

http://www.metroglasstech.co.nz/products/decorative-glass/privacy-glass.aspx
http://glasshape.co.nz/products/switchshield

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Skolink

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#562004 27-Dec-2011 22:16

Ah. Thanks everyone. I'd never heard of any electrically switchable glass other than LCD. Very cool. Finally put that one to rest, cheers.

mattwnz

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#562012 27-Dec-2011 22:49

A friend in the UK had this glass installed in their new house. It is good for bedrooms and bathrooms, whre you want glass, but don't want curtains. It is controlled electronically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_glass

TheUngeek

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#562068 28-Dec-2011 09:12

So power cut and neighbours can get an eyeful?

install remote switch on power board of hot neighbour....

blakamin

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#562074 28-Dec-2011 09:25

Actually doesn't need constant current from what I've seen!

TheUngeek

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#562079 28-Dec-2011 09:39

foiled again!

But yeah, from I recall seeing about it the current changes the position of tiny rods (I think) in the glass. Changes the polarity of them to move I think.

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blakamin

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#562082 28-Dec-2011 09:41

TheUngeek: foiled again!

But yeah, from I recall seeing about it the current changes the position of tiny rods (I think) in the glass. Changes the polarity of them to move I think.

I'll have a look when I go back to work.. we have some there...

CYaBro

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#562092 28-Dec-2011 10:12

It may be that it requires a current to make the glass clear so if there is a power cut it goes opaque.

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