Smart Windows
2011
Smart' sunglasses let users adjust shade and color
Imagine a single pair of glasses with lenses that can be transparent or dark, and in shades of yellow, green or purple, all on command. A new lens with chameleon powers promises to dramatically improve sunglasses' function.
Shades that can be controlled at the touch of a button would interest athletes, construction workers and anyone with sensitive eyes. The glasses are made possible by a new material uniquely suited to the task: a low-cost sheet that changes color and shade using almost no power. Prototype "smart" glasses were presented today in Chicago at the American Chemical Society's 233rd national meeting.
"These lenses are more active, more intelligent, than today's sunglasses" said Chunye Xu, research assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Washington. "But because of the materials we're using we don't think the price is going to be very different."
Motorcyclists, skiers or mountain bikers might be in the shade one moment and pop into bright sunlight an instant later. Some high-end sunglasses already let athletes adjust to such changing conditions by swapping out lenses. But the new shades, which take from one to two seconds to transition, allow a much quicker switch. Current lens choices don't simply include different levels of shading, but also different colors, such as yellow lenses, said to enhance contrasts and improve depth perception, or rose-colored glasses, which brighten low-light scenes. The new glasses would offer an endless range of options on one accessory.
Doctors already are recommending sunglasses that darken in response to the lighting conditions, known as photochromic lenses. These use incoming UV rays to trigger a chemical reaction that darkens the lens, but users can't adjust the shade. Also, the lenses may stay bright under strong midday light or get too dark in low-level evening light due to the angle of incoming rays. And photochromic lenses have the drawback that when behind a UV-protected surface, such as a car window, the glasses won't change color. Adjustable lenses would avoid this problem.
Researchers made the glasses using electrochromic materials that change transparency depending on the electric current. Many groups, including the UW, are developing such materials for so-called "smart windows" that could soon be used in energy-efficient homes and offices. Most smart windows use liquid-crystal technology or inorganic oxides. Those materials are expensive to produce and require a constant or frequent injection of power to hold their tint. The UW glasses are based on a new type of smart window using organic, rather than inorganic, oxides. These are cheaper to manufacture and require less power.
The prototype glasses are powered by a watch battery that attaches to the glasses frame, and the wearer spins a tiny dial on the arm of the glasses to change color or shade. The lenses were created by sandwiching a gel between two layers of electrochromic material. Applying a small voltage moves charged particles from one layer to another, and changes the transparency. Once the glasses are a certain tint they will stay that way without power for about 30 days. A single watch battery is able to power thousands of transitions, Xu said.
Organic molecules allowed the researchers to create colored lenses.
"In organic materials, the elements are simple but the structure is much more complicated," Xu said. "We can add more branches to this structure and tune in colors."
Article Source: blog.topons.com
About the Author
Smart Windows
 |
 NEW Verizon Samsung Sch i760 i760 Wifi Windows Mobile Slider QWERTY Smart Phone $59.99 Time Remaining: 27d 1h 48m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 Buy It Now |
 The Smart Approach to Window Decor by Lynn Elliott and Lisa Lent $0.99 Time Remaining: 19h 52m |
 Smart Games 3 for Windows $1.49 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 22m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 Buy It Now |
 NEW Nib Unlocked LG Fathom VS750 Wifi World Windows Smart Phone $104.99 Time Remaining: 17d 7h 42m Buy It Now for only: $104.99 Buy It Now |
 Smart Games Challenge 1 for Windows $0.99 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 22m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 Buy It Now |
 NEW Htc Tytn 3G WIFI 2MP QWERTY WINDOWS SMART PHONE $68.00 Time Remaining: 7d 4h 30m Buy It Now for only: $68.00 Buy It Now |
 ATT Samsung Blackjack 2 MODEL SGH I617 Unlocked Red WINDOWS SMART PHONE $20.50 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 3h 25m |
 3 HTC Cingular 3125 Smart Phones WIndows Cell Phone Gsm Working Extras $49.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 5h 14m Buy It Now for only: $105.95 Buy It Now |
 SAMSUNG FOCUS FLASH i677 WINDOWS SMART PHONE ATT $130.00 Time Remaining: 2d 2h 36m Buy It Now for only: $130.00 Buy It Now |
 08 11 Smart OEM Rear Hach Door Window Lifts $10.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 6h 6m |
 Htc Touch Pro Sprint Clean Esn Smart Phone Windows 61 Qwerty A $39.95 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 56m Buy It Now for only: $39.95 Buy It Now |
 BLUE UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR WINDOW DOOR HANDLE MIRROR COVER PILLAR $0.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 40m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 Buy It Now |
 YELLOW UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR WINDOW SWITCH SHIFT KNO $3.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 41m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now |
 Mint Verizon Samsung SCH i760 i760 Wifi Windows Mobile Slider QWERTY Smart Phone $39.99 Time Remaining: 27d 1h 48m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Buy It Now |
 GOLDEN UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR WINDOW DOOR HANDLE MIRROR COVER BUMPER $8.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 43m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now |
 NEW LG QUANTUM C900 ORIGINAL ATT WINDOWS 7 TOUCH QWERTY KEYBOARD SMART PHONE $150.39 Time Remaining: 21d 22h 6m Buy It Now for only: $150.39 Buy It Now |
 GOLDEN UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR WINDOW DOOR HANDLE SPEA $3.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 44m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now |
 LG C900 FOR T MOBILE SIMPLE MOBILE WINDOWS 7 TOUCH WIFI Qwerty Pda SMART C 900 $149.90 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 24m Buy It Now for only: $149.90 Buy It Now |
 GOLDEN UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR WINDOW DOOR HANDLE FENDER SHIFT KNOB $8.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 49m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now |
 BLUE UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR FOG LIGHT HEADLIGHT TAIL LIGHT WINDOW LIP $8.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 49m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now |
 NEW SAMSUNG i627 PROPEL PRO ATT Unlocked Windows CAMERA SMART PHONE $74.99 Time Remaining: 2d 18h 47m Buy It Now for only: $74.99 Buy It Now |
 ORANGE UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR WINDOW RIM DOOR HANDLE $3.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 50m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now |
 SAMSUNG FOCUS FLASH i677 WINDOWS SMART PHONE ATT $117.99 Time Remaining: 29d 22h 39m Buy It Now for only: $117.99 Buy It Now |
 GOLDEN UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR WINDOW COVER TAIL LIGHT FOG HEADLIGHT $8.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 50m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now |
 BLUE UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR WINDOW DOOR HANDLE SPEAK $3.99 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 6m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now |
 NEW SAMSUNG SGH i780 3G WIFI Gps Windows MOBILE 60 QWERTY SMART $73.10 Time Remaining: 13d 13h 1m Buy It Now for only: $73.10 Buy It Now |
 BLUE UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR SHIFT KNOB WINDOW RIM DUCT VENT WHEEL CAP $8.99 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 36m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now |
 Nokia Lumia 610 Black 8GB HSDPA WI FI Windows 75 Mango Smart Phone By FedEx $267.80 Time Remaining: 12d 14h 2m Buy It Now for only: $267.80 Buy It Now |
 NEW MICROSOFT WINDOWS POWERED SMARTPHONE DEVELOPER SMART STARTS HERE TSHIRT 2XL $4.99 Time Remaining: 1d 23h 46m |
 COMPUTER CUT ALL WINDOW TINT KIT ANY SHADE k PRECUT $23.95 Time Remaining: 2d 15h 15m Buy It Now for only: $26.95 Buy It Now |
 Angry Birds app Iphone Android Smart Phone Decal Sticker Cool car ATT window $2.95 Time Remaining: 29d 3h 43m Buy It Now for only: $2.95 Buy It Now |
 Best Data Internal Modem for Windows 56K V92 V44 Smart One Series $8.99 Time Remaining: 2d 18h 10m |
 NEW Smart Disk High Speed 2x Floppy Drive External USB Windows Mac $19.99 Time Remaining: 23d 20h 24m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now |
 NIB FUJIFILM Image Reader SM R1 Smart Media F SM R1 U Windows 98 For Macintosh $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 2m |
 FAST SHIPPING 24 GHZ WIRELESS MCE SMART PAD KEYBOARD W TOUCHPAD FOR WINDOWS 7 $31.96 Time Remaining: 29d 21h 56m Buy It Now for only: $31.96 Buy It Now |
 Victorian CDV Smart Gent bald on top By Window Grove London $1.55 Time Remaining: 2d 23h 47m |
 HTC HD7 16gb Windows 7 Smart PhoneT Mobile AS IS FOR PARTS $1.04 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 4h 14m |
 CAR WINDSHIELD WINDOW SUCTION MOUNT FOR MOTOROLA DROID RAZR Verizon Smart PHONE $7.99 Time Remaining: 13d 3h 49m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 Buy It Now |
 Att Samsung Focus SGH i917 Windows Smart Phone Clean $100.00 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 5h 14m |
 ALLTEL MOTOROLA Q9C Q9 WINDOWS Mobile Smart Phone Black WITH NO CONTRACT $43.95 Time Remaining: 23d 17h 45m Buy It Now for only: $43.95 Buy It Now |
 The New Smart Approach to Window Decor by Lisa Lent and Lynn Elliott 2004 $1.00 Time Remaining: 3d 18h 49m Buy It Now for only: $2.00 Buy It Now |
 4 Duck home smart earth friendly window kits lot of 4 save 190 on energy costs $7.00 Time Remaining: 3d 23h 6m |
 USB 20 11 PC SC Smart Card Reader IC ID For Windows 98SE ME 2000 XP VISTA $13.39 Time Remaining: 10d 12h 28m Buy It Now for only: $13.39 Buy It Now |
 The Smart Approach to Window Decor by Lynn Elliott and Lisa Lent 2000 $3.50 Time Remaining: 4d 23m |
 Windows Phone Logo Striped Jersey V T Shirt Tee Microsoft Smart L $12.99 Time Remaining: 22d 2h 28m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 Buy It Now |
 Windows Internal Modem 56K v92 v44 Best Data Smart One Series $10.00 Time Remaining: 4d 2h 4m |
 HP iPAQ h6300 Pocket PC T mobile smart phone T Mobile Windows powered $50.00 Time Remaining: 4d 6h 55m |
 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Smart fortwo vent shade window visor rain guard $79.99 Time Remaining: 4d 4h 12m Buy It Now for only: $79.99 Buy It Now |
 CHROME UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR MIRROR GAUGE PODS SHIFT KNOB WINDOW RIM $5.50 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 4d 19h 31m |
 ScyTek WR84 SMART4 4 Windows Roll up Module or 2 Windows Up Down $32.99 Time Remaining: 13d 3h Buy It Now for only: $32.99 Buy It Now |
 CHROME UNIVERSAL MOULDING TRIM STRIP FOR WINDOW STEREOS RADIOS HEADLIGHT LIP $3.99 Time Remaining: 5d 10h 45m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now |
 Data Binding with Windows Forms 2.0: Programming Smart Client Data Applications with .NET List Price: Sale Price: $43.41 You save: $21.58 (33%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description“Brian Noyes’ writing style easily captures your attention as he elaborates on all aspects of data binding in his book. He has a refreshingly clear and crisp delivery as he starts each chapter with a simple tour of each topic, and then leads you into practical concerns for sound practices and extensibility opportunities...  |
 GE 56789 SmartHome Wireless Window Alarm List Price: Sale Price: $6.89 You save: $3.06 (31%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionNo wiring necessary - Easy to install - 120dB alarm - Concealed ON/OFF switch for protection - Requires 4 LR44 batteries (Included) |
 GE 51107 Smart Home Wireless Alarm System Kit List Price: Sale Price: $21.54 You save: $8.41 (28%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThe GE 51107 Personal Security Alarm Kit includes everything you need to help secure your home, including a deluxe door alarm with a four-digit keypad and three independent window alarms. Best of all, there's no wiring or drilling required for installation... |
 HTC Touch Pro Verizon XV6850 Window Smart Cell Phone List Price: Sale Price: $75.95 You save: $223.05 (75%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product |
 The Smart Approach to Window Decor (3rd edition) List Price: Sale Price: $8.67 You save: $13.28 (61%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThe Smart Approach to Window Decor-3rd Edition is for the style-oriented consumer seeking inspiration for beautiful window treatments with a professional touch. The book provides design information and problem-solving advice, and covers a wide range of both soft and hard treatments... |
 Mastering Lotus Smartsuite 97 for Windows 95 Sale Price: $49.30 See Reviews For This Product DescriptionGet comprehensive coverage of the latest versions of 1-2-3, Word Pro, Approach, Freelance Graphics, and Organizer-all in one book. Written for beginning and intermediate users, this book mirrors the integrated approach of SmartSuite itself... |
 Simple SMART Skills - Vol. 2 (Windows) Sale Price: $19.95 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product |
 5x Samsung Focus SGH-i916 Windows 7 Smart Phone Premium Clear LCD Screen Protector Cover Guard Film Kit, no cutting is required! Exact fit and satisfaction guaranteed! Sale Price: $1.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionOur screen protector is made from the best material import from Japan. This is not a 'one-size-fits-all' solution, we designed and pre-cut to fit each device in San Francisco. Each screen Protector will MATCH its screen shape and cover the FULL screen, not just the picture area, there will be no cutting or trimming is required... |
 SGT111 DOD Military USB CAC Smart Card Reader Sale Price: $26.00 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionTried and true by thousands, the SGT111 is the industry standard smart card reader. Perfect for both mobile and desktop users. Applications include ActivClient, AKO, OWA, DKO, NKO, GKO, Marinenet, AF Portal, Pure Edge Viewer, ApproveIt, DTS, LPS etc... |
 Smart Client Deployment with ClickOnce: Deploying Windows Forms Applications with ClickOnce List Price: Sale Price: $34.21 You save: $15.78 (32%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description“ClickOnce demos may look simple, but those techniques only work for simple applications. Brian Noyes gives us the information we need to use ClickOnce in the real world, and he does it with a comprehensive and organized presentation... |
Freeware News
Comment