Zeiss has introduced Smart Glass technology that gives any glass a host of new functions. The idea is to turn ubiquitous transparent panels into something new at the user’s request. They can have different functions depending on their location – in a car, apartment, office building, etc.
The technology is based on the creation of a polymer film permeated with externally controlled light-conducting elements. It preserves the glass’s 92% transparency and adds light control, projection, filtering and detection capabilities. This makes it possible to realize various useful options, but Zeiss doesn’t plan to do that. They want to produce a platform on which other companies will build their own commercial products.
As an example, the developers provide a variant of glass with a screen function for connecting gadgets. If desired, the screen can be made touch-sensitive, although with some limitations. In another variant, the glass serves as a camera, collecting visual information from the surrounding space, while it remains glass itself – no additional devices need to be installed. This technology is also optimally suited for the realization of augmented reality functions for car windows.
