Cool new privacy glass that you can control via your smartphone

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Cool new privacy glass that you can control via your smartphone

jarledb

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Topic # 119671 10-Jun-2013 03:33

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http://sonte.com/features

Nice for sun shading, for the glas around the conference room, bathroom etc :)

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jjnz1

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Reply # 833333 10-Jun-2013 07:29

I want!

Batman

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Reply # 833334 10-Jun-2013 07:40

$? Double glazed?

kiwijunglist

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Reply # 833369 10-Jun-2013 09:18

Double glazed?

No this is different to double glazing

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Reply # 833377 10-Jun-2013 09:28

This product has been around for some time. I believe it uses a special gel insert which becomes opaque when a charge is put across it, has featured on Grand Designs a few times where people didn't want curtains etc.

Problem is it doesn't block light so was a bit useless in place of curtains. From what I understand it is $++

Reasonably novel, if predictable that it could be controlled by a phone...

Jon

jarledb

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Reply # 833440 10-Jun-2013 11:09

They are on kickstarter. Price for 1 x 2 meters is 324 USD with a set with 4 for for 1494 USD (More, because it also includes "daisy chain" to put the sheets together.

[]urlhttp://www.kickstarter.com/projects/843725167/sonte-iphone-ipad-android-diy-wifi-digital-shades[/url]

The technology is not new, but from what I understand its been shipped inside of glas panels before, whereas this is sheets that you put on your own glas. So more of a DIY retrofit product.

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reven

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Reply # 833452 10-Jun-2013 11:34

im probably going to back this. started a home automation project, and was thinking about remote control blinds, but these would be better.

probably cost around $1000-$2000 per room though, depending on how many windows etc....

would want them in my master bedroom most.

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Reply # 833461 10-Jun-2013 11:36

I've seen this done before but it was with LCD over glass (probably way more expensive). I don't like that it makes the window partially opaque when it's not on.

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Reply # 833463 10-Jun-2013 11:39

I also note that the shots of the film in its "clear" state are really short, it does not look like it as totally clear when in that state, so you will have some degree of frosting visible all the time....

I could be mistaken, but that is certainly what it looks like in the video...

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Reply # 833469 10-Jun-2013 11:48

wellygary: I also note that the shots of the film in its "clear" state are really short, it does not look like it as totally clear when in that state, so you will have some degree of frosting visible all the time....

I could be mistaken, but that is certainly what it looks like in the video...

The idea looks great but has a couple a drawbacks - first, as wellygary says, the film makes the glass less than clear. Second, if I understand it correctly, the 'clear' state is the 'on' state and 'off' is opaque. This means it's drawing current all the time the film is transparent. Maybe that doesn't matter too much - depends on whether it's 'on' a lot or 'off' a lot. Probably not a lot of current anyway.

They are developing a film that works the other way round - but they say it's in its early stages.

Niel

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Reply # 833612 10-Jun-2013 15:50

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LCD technology for windows has been around for some time, but typically only 50% transmissive so not popular. If this gel requires power to be clear, that can easily be supplied by a solar panel as you probably want it clear only when there is sunlight (and dark at night).

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