By Have you seen Corning’s A Day Made of Glass video? It’s only garnered about 15 million views on YouTube, and shows a marketer’s fantasy of today’s coolest technologies blended in glass—from photovoltaic glass that produces solar electricity to architectural displays and surfaces that turn bathroom mirrors, countertops and walls into interactive surfaces. It’s all very Minority Report, without the Big Brother angst.
Of course, no vision of the future would be complete without a smartphone that seamlessly integrates with other surfaces, so you can touch your little glass iPal to a surface and instantly download your presentation. Very cool. Or unroll it like the still unrealized promise of OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology.
The big irony is that several of these products are already available today. Photovoltaic film for windows is being used in BIPV (Built-in Photovoltaic) systems to produce energy for buildings. SPD-SmartGlass that tints to block the sun and reduce cooling will be on the roof of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK. Conductive surfaces that charge mobile devices and can even run a blender wirelessly are available or will soon be available. Some of these technologies, including a 20-foot-wide display wall, were shown in a Future Technologies pavilion at the recent CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) Expo in Indianapolis. Even better, BIPV glass and SmartGlass can enable smart energy management and energy savings in our homes and buildings.
Will our future grow even rosier? Not to put a smudge on Corning’s classy-glassy vision, but the company may also want to develop self-cleaning and disinfecting glass. I feel some sniffles coming on.
Does this company need any volunteers to try out some of this new technology in the average working man's home? If so, then sign me up. I would jump at any opportunity to help make my home more energy efficient. Please consider my request, I can be reached at my email address quentin610@verizon.net. Thanks .
I read that many many years ago, during the 50's when every American had a lab, workbench and imagination in their garage was when many of these patents were registered. then Corning came along and bought the "silly" patents of the visionaries that produced them for practically pennies. they stored this technology for future uses. In the meantime, they created much legislation forbidding such fun in your garage or basement…The good thing is that these funny little men had a sci-fi dream, and a high school chemistry teacher to Thank for much of what you are realizing today. So you know, it was the great man with a mighty imagination, and freedom that have brought these things forward.