Switch on: 6 clever applications for smart glass

Smart glass is one of the most exciting developments in the recent history of glass manufacturing. It's a type of laminated glass that can switch from clear to opaque at the touch of a button.

It's most commonly installed in settings where privacy is needed on-demand. In a hospital room, for instance, a patient may need privacy now but not later. Remote-controlled switch glass is an elegant, easy-to-use answer to this problem. The same goes for offices and bathrooms. It can also be used for additional security in banks, prisons and luxury stores such as jeweller's shops.

Here at ToughGlaze, we have our own range of smart glass that we call TG SWITCH. However, not everyone uses "switch" or "switchable" to describe this type of glass. Elsewhere, you might see it referred to as LCD glass or electric tinting glass.

Switchable smart glass is nothing if not versatile. Here are just some of its applications in both domestic and commercial settings. We hope it inspires you, whatever project you have in mind.

1. Privacy in the workplace

Workplaces are like homes in one key respect: they're shared spaces where privacy is sometimes, but not always, required. Just as your bedroom typically won't need to be cordoned off 24/7, so meeting rooms and cubicles need to be private only as and when required.

Switchable smart glass is an answer to this conundrum. It can be installed on street-facing windows, doors and walls. That means you can be open for business during the day but concealed at night.

The same goes for the rooms within the office. Partitions can be dimmed at will to create instant private booths.

This is an obvious improvement on purely opaque glass because of its flexibility. You're not shutting out natural light around the clock – just when members of staff or visitors need to have a conversation in private. Conversely, if you work in an office that gets flooded with blinding light, switchable smart glass can soften it.

Smart glass can improve open-plan offices by combining the best of both worlds: a shared space and privacy.

Finally, it can look really good. If you want a workplace with a modern, minimalistic aesthetic, switchable smart glass can help you achieve your goal.

2. Corporate data security

Today's office is somewhere between a treasure trove and a landfill site of corporate data. There's just so much of it lying around on computers, tablets and phones. This is one key reason why digital security has never been more important.

Is there an area within your office where sensitive data is handled regularly? Switchable smart glass allows you to shield it from view when necessary. In this respect, it can form part of your cybersecurity strategy.

3. An alternative to skylight blinds

Skylights can transform a room, flooding it with natural light. But many people hold back because of concerns about privacy, especially in urban areas.

Skylight blinds are an option – but if you don't want to operate a blind manually, you can get switchable smart glass fitted instead.

4. Privacy in the bathroom

Frosted glass is all well and good – but do you want it round the clock? Smart glass lets you turn the glass on your shower screen, wet room divider or window to opaque in an instant.

5. Light and heat control in TV studios

Live TV is possible only because of the efforts of behind-the-scenes staff. But keeping them off-camera can be a challenge, meaning frequent disruption during recording. Smart glass is one way around this.

It can also be used to control the lighting and heat coming into a studio. This was why the Associated Press had smart glass fitted in its studios. The news agency was then able to ensure that enough daylight was coming in without compromising the quality of recordings.

6. Extra security where it counts

Some premises want to embrace the advantages of smart glass but need that extra layer of protection. These include hospitals, banks, prisons, airport security and shops that sell high-end products such as jeweller's stores.

Thankfully, security glass can be smartened up, meaning the best of both worlds for places that aren't in a position to cut corners where security is concerned.

How does smart glass work?

Different types of smart glass work in different ways. There are three main types: suspended particle devices (SPDs), electrochromic devices (ECDs) and polymer-dispersed liquid crystal devices (PDLCs). TG SWITCH is an example of a PDLC.

SPDs contain tiny particles suspended in a liquid that are coated to create a film. While this kind of glass can be dimmed, it doesn't turn completely opaque.

Electrochromic glass was the market leader in smart glass for a spell. It had two main drawbacks. The first was that the glass often had a yellowish hue, which made it difficult to blend into some environments. The second was that the "switch" took time – up to half an hour for a large window.

PDLC has all but superseded ECD in this regard. It has far better clarity and faster response times. Ours darkens thanks to a dedicated NPRLC interlayer, sandwiched between two sheets of glass and home to a multitude of liquid crystal molecules. This layer becomes transparent when an electric current is switched on.

The change is instant – or so it seems. It goes from opaque to clear in 0.01 seconds, which is too fast for humans to process.

The bottom line

Switchable smart glass allows for privacy on demand. You can maximise the natural light in a building while still being able to create a private space when required. It's this flexibility that makes it such an attractive investment in both domestic and commercial spaces.

Are you looking for switchable smart glass for your home or office? Get in touch with ToughGlaze today or read all about TG SWITCH. You'll be amazed at what it can do for the privacy and aesthetic of your building.