Smart glass is transforming every space into a modern, privacy environment. In-home applications, it embodies the concept of smart home and eliminates the requirement of curtains or blinds, or provides you with the ability to maintain absolute privacy by creating separation between living spaces, with the help of two unique solutions.
In terms of design, smart privacy glass provides a minimalistic, energy cost-efficient solutions to elevate and connect spaces. The glass has an added advantage of soundproofing the environment, acting as a rear projection screen and a whiteboard, unique properties that are often utilized in the corporate conference and meeting rooms.
Switchable glass uses PDLC technology (Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals) to transform from transparent to opaque. It is highly adaptable and can be fitted to any glass shape.
PDLC glass is a smart choice for numerous applications within the household. Since it turns from transparent to completely opaque, it may be used to create a separation between bathrooms and bedroom spaces, or between bedrooms and living rooms in smaller living spaces.
The basic working principle of privacy glass is Liquid Crystal (LC) polarization. When power is off the liquid crystal molecules are randomly oriented and will scatter incidental light. This renders the Switchable Privacy Glass panel opaque. When an electric current is applied, the liquid crystal molecules line up, the incidental light passes through, and the privacy glass becomes clear.
This switchable glass product and the switchable film function in accordance with the flick of a switch. Today, numerous mobile device applications or remote controls may be used to control the intelligent glass.
Another potential solution for your home could be the use of Electrochromic Glass. EC glass does not provide privacy capabilities as PDLC, but can prevent the entry of up to 99% of the visible light from windows, therefore offering a perfect substitute to curtains or blinds.
Normally, when the lithium ions reside in the innermost electrode the glass is clear. When a small voltage is applied to the electrodes, the ions migrate through the separator to the outermost electrode which resulted in tinted glass.
Both solutions belong to the active smart glass category, since their mode is operated by you with the help of an electric current.