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Know Everything About Smart Glass & its Benefits

Smart glass represents a groundbreaking innovation of materials science, merging the functionality of traditional glass with the dynamic adaptability of modern technology. This revolutionary product can change its properties, such as light transmission, in response to external stimuli, offering a blend of privacy, energy efficiency, and aesthetic appeal. Here we will cover the complexities of smart glass, including its operation, types, and the multitude of benefits it brings to various sectors. 

What Is Smart Glass? 

Smart glass can change its properties based on external stimuli, such as electricity, light, or heat. This transformation allows the glass to switch between transparent and opaque states, providing privacy, shading, or glare reduction as needed. Smart glass technology has evolved significantly in recent years, with various methods used to achieve the desired switching effect. 

How Does Smart Glass Work? 

The functionality of smart glass depends on the specific technology employed. In general, smart glass contains a layer of material that can alter its transparency or colour when an external stimulus is applied. For example, electrochromic smart glass utilises a thin coating of electrochromic materials that change colour in response to an electrical voltage. This voltage triggers a chemical reaction within the glass, causing it to darken or lighten depending on the polarity of the applied voltage. 

Applications of Smart Glass 

1. Architecture and Construction 

Smart glass is revolutionising the architecture and construction industries by offering innovative solutions for windows, skylights, and partitions. In office buildings and residential spaces, smart glass windows can adjust their tint to control sunlight and heat, reducing energy consumption for heating, cooling, and lighting. Additionally, smart glass partitions provide privacy on demand, transforming open spaces into private meeting areas with the flick of a switch. 

2. Healthcare Facilities 

In healthcare, smart glass offers privacy and comfort for patients while maintaining a connection to the outside environment. Smart glass partitions in hospital rooms and clinics can switch between opaque and transparent modes, allowing medical staff to maintain visibility when needed while providing patients with privacy during examinations or procedures. 

Benefits of Smart Glass 

The several benefits of smart glass are the following: 

I. Energy Efficiency 

One of the primary benefits of smart glass is its contribution to energy efficiency in buildings and vehicles. By controlling sunlight and heat gain, smart glass reduces the need for artificial lighting and air conditioning, leading to lower energy consumption and utility costs. 

II. Privacy and Security 

Smart glass provides an effective solution for privacy and security in both residential and commercial settings. With the ability to switch between transparent and opaque states, smart glass windows and partitions offer privacy on demand, reducing the need for curtains, blinds, or other window treatments. 

III. Enhanced Aesthetics 

Smart glass adds a touch of sophistication and modernity to architectural designs and automotive interiors. The sleek, minimalist appearance of smart glass windows and partitions complements contemporary aesthetics, creating visually appealing spaces that are both functional and stylish. 

IV. Sound Insulation 

Certain smart glass variants also exemplify sound-dampening properties, cutting external noise infiltration appreciably and aiding building insulation needs, particularly near airports or city centres. Some editions absorb interior echoes for improved conferencing voice clarity, too. 

Conclusion 

Smart glass technology is reshaping the way we perceive and interact with glass surfaces in our built environment. From energy-efficient buildings to comfortable and stylish vehicles, the applications of smart glass are diverse and far-reaching. By offering benefits such as energy efficiency, privacy, improved comfort, enhanced aesthetics, and increased productivity, smart glass is poised to become an integral component of modern architecture, transportation, and design. 

For more information on Smart glass and the highest quality available, get in touch with AIS Glass. 

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Challenges Faced While Selecting a Right Smart Glass Supplier

Innovation is not merely limited to the realm of data science and electronics. The same has seeped into every nook and cranny of modern society; even the architectural industry is being disrupted by one-of-their-kind, marvellous technological advancements that were unheard of even a decade ago.

One such advancement is termed as ‘smart or switchable glass.’ This glass solution uses electricity to change its opacity levels. This dynamic, multi-functional glass type focuses on serving the on-demand privacy needs of the buyer.

Though a relatively new solution, smart glass is already being showered by loads of love and appreciation, the fact that it is becoming so popular among Indian architects, interior designers, and homeowners bears testimony. However, one may face challenges in choosing the right smart glass supplier. Read more to find out.

How Does Smart Glass Work?

Switchable or smart glass works by using active light control technology called the PDLC or Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal technology. It comprises a smart film interlayer that consists of randomly dispersed particles. In the absence of an electric current, the electrons lie scattered, thus blocking the passage of light, but when an electric current is passed, the particles get polarized and arrange themselves in a straight line. This facilitates the passage of light. Thus, the glass turns from opaque to transparent on the flick of a switch.

Challenges in Selecting the Right Smart Glass Supplier

While buying smart glass, customers face a lot of challenges as this is still an upcoming technology and is yet to become popular in the mainstream. Due to its obscurity, customers – especially the ones buying for personal needs – can be hesitant in trusting the smart glass supplier. Here are some of the most common challenges faced by customers while looking for the right smart glass supplier.

Being Clueless about the Product

This is the most common hurdle faced by customers, especially when it comes to smart glass. The smart glass market is relatively new in India, and there is a pressing need to educate more people about the availability of such an innovative and functional glass solution. 

The first and foremost thing that you need to do as a potential smart glass buyer is to develop a basic understanding of the pros and cons of the product. Lack of awareness in a niche technological product can become a setback later on. You should consider hiring experts or taking assistance from the company to understand the product fully.

So, the first checkbox to tick is to keep an eye for a smart glass supplier that does not shy away from giving you a thorough knowledge of the product they’re selling.

Ambiguities Regarding the ‘Value-for-Money’ Aspect

While we understand that money may not be an issue, but ensuring that the product you’re purchasing gives full value for the money you’re investing, is crucial. To get fair prices, you should be aware of the market price and do your research well. However, do not make the mistake of equating value-for-money with the lowest price around, but the right balance of quality, reliability, and the money that goes into procuring the product.

Half-Baked Knowledge about the Chosen Supplier

It is crucial to have a clear understanding of the services, reputation, and other aspects of the supplying company in detail. In addition to this, customers should create specific, detailed, in-depth criteria regarding their needs to get the best out of the supplier. Inadequate information can lead to misunderstandings and bad business relations.

Further, smart glass is manufactured in a variety of ways; it is imperative that you ask your supplier regarding their manufacturing processes, usage, number of working cycles, and more so that you do not end up causing any defects with your product. Also, this undoubtedly helps in knowing your smart glass supplier and their practices better.

Besides those mentioned above, it is also important to quiz your smart glass supplier on the variety of shades and sizes in which they offer their product. As important as it is to derive the best of smart glass functionality, it is equally essential to get the aesthetic rush you’re looking for. Choose a smart glass supplier who has a wide brand reach, positive reviews, and testimonies, offers customisable services, and end-to-end support.

End Your Search for the Best Smart Glass Supplier with AIS Glass!

Looking for a reliable and experienced smart glass supplier? Look no further than AIS Glass! We are the industry leaders in supplying architectural glass for all your aesthetic and functional needs – privacy (on-demand), security, energy-efficiency, and acoustic insulation. Our smart AIS Swytchglas turns from transparent to opaque and vice-versa in just less than 10 microseconds, blocks up to 50% light in its ‘Off Mode,’ and lasts for a minimum of 20,000 cycles.

Our expert team will assist you every step of the way, right from the time of product choice up until installation, even with post-installation services. And what’s more, is that we will thoroughly educate you on our smart glass and its operation. For bespoke smart glass solutions, contact us today!

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Different Ways on How Smart Glass Design has Changed Architecture

The popularity of glass as a construction material stems mainly from the relief it provides, the relief from obstinate, opaque materials that block vision. Glass loves to connect the building to its environment while at the same time, offering protection from the elements. But, what about matters of privacy? Has glass bypassed such needs? Of course not! Quite the opposite!

Modern-day glass solutions not only take care of permanent privacy needs in the form of frosted and tinted glass, but even on-demand privacy needs in the form of smart glass. Let us find out the different ways in which smart glass is redefining architecture.

What is Smart Glass?

Smart glass is an innovative glass solution that comes with adjustable opacity. The opacity levels of smart glass can easily be controlled by applying appropriate voltage, heat, or light. Smart glass can change its light transmission properties, based on external stimuli. It can easily turn from transparent to opaque, even translucent and vice-versa by the flick of a remote control switch. Due to this unique quality, smart glass is also commonly known as privacy glass, switchable glass, and light control glass (LCG).

Uses of Smart Glass in Architecture

With its advent in the market, smart glass has become quite a sensation amongst both interior designers and architects. Incorporating smart glass into an architectural project, whether residential or commercial can add an elegant oomph factor. Given below are some of the ways smart glass is being used today.

Hospitals/ Healthcare Facilities

When it comes to designing hospitals, more than the design elements and aesthetics, the functionality of the building plays a crucial role. The architectural design can enhance the functionality of the building so that patients can have a more comfortable stay. This is the principal reason why smart glass is being widely used in hospitals. 

Patient privacy is essential for both check-ups and recovery, and smart glass is much better at this job than curtains. In modern hospitals, smart glass is being used as room partitions to create better isolated single-bed units which enhance patient privacy and create another layer of confidentiality. It is also being incorporated in examination areas, ICUs, X-ray rooms, ERs, etc. Smart glass provides privacy on demand, which allows practitioners to select opacity levels as per their needs. They are also being included as partition systems and as double doors so that monitoring patients becomes easier.

Smart glass is also easier to clean and a more hygienic option than blinds or curtains. This helps in providing better protection against infection to neighbouring patients and healthcare personnel.

Commercial Buildings

When it comes to commercial buildings, one of the best ways that smart glass has been incorporated in architectural design is through their use in entrances. A building’s entrance incorporating smart glass adds a modern aesthetic touch and makes the building more distinguishable than its neighbours in the vicinity.

Smart glass is also being used in commercial spaces in windows, cabins, partitions, room dividers, etc. It is the optimal choice to create private spaces in offices. Smart glass partitions in offices also work quite brilliantly with flexible open-floor plans. They maintain privacy while maximising space in a modern office. Smart glass is also an ideal choice for conference rooms. Apart from providing privacy, smart glass partitions work great as projection screens during meetings. Moreover, smart glass adds a touch of style and modernity to an office space.

Hotels

Hoteliers are always looking for ways to incorporate the latest technologies and design features to enhance their guests’ experiences. This has prompted the usage of smart glass in hotels quite widely. Smart glass partitions are being used in hotel rooms for a seamless transition between the bedroom and the bathroom. These smart glass partitions also provide adequate privacy with the flick of a switch whenever needed by the guests. This amalgamation of the bathroom and bedroom in one large space has made open design plans trendy in hotels. Open design plans maximise space, allows more natural light to enter the room while enhancing the style quotient of the hotel suite. 

Smart glass is also very commonly used in bathrooms, shower cubicles, and spas in hotels. With a simple click, the guest can transform the privacy glass from clear to translucent and back again. Installing smart glass partitions or facades is a great way to give the interiors of the hotel a minimalist yet sleek look.

Residential Buildings

In recent years, smart glass has become very popular in residential buildings. It is being used in windows, partitions, skylights, and doors. This is because smart glass helps in controlling privacy, excessive light, and heat inflow that enters into the interior of the building, ultimately making it more comfortable and liveable.  Smart glass also eliminates the need for blinds or curtains. Moreover, designers are also using smart glass in bathrooms as shower cubicles to add. 

Smart glass is advanced functionality wrapped up in unprecedented aesthetic appeal. For premium-quality smart glass solutions, be it for your residence, clinic, or commercial establishment, contact IS Glass – India’s leading integrated glass manufacturer. We manufacture a range of high-grade architectural glass products and provide our customers with 360-degree glass solutions for all their glass needs. Our smart glass – AIS Swytchglas – is a revolutionary product that offers cutting-edge glass technology that combines the power to control both heat transmission and transparency. Whether it is your home or commercial space, our AIS Swytchglas can help you strike the perfect balance between utility and style.

So what are you waiting for? Reach out to us today!

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Budget-Friendly Installation of Privacy Glass for Home

Glass has long been a popular building choice among architects and homeowners alike. After all, the material has a unique fluid visual appeal to it than none can resist. Thankfully, that’s not all! Modern-day innovative glass solutions not only adorn a building but are highly functional, meeting a variety of needs, from energy-efficiency to privacy, even privacy on demand.

Depending upon your unique needs and tastes, you can have privacy glass installed in your home.

Essentially, there are two kinds of privacy glass in the market – frosted glass and smart or switchable glass.

Frosted Glass

Frosted glass is a glass that has been turned opaque by the process of sandblasting or acid-etching. Acid-etched frosted glass is created by using acid treatment to create the signature frosted glass look, whereas sandblasted frosted glass is created by using a high-speed machine that bombards the glass sheet with sand or other materials. Frosted glass works great as a privacy glass because it obscures the view while still allowing light to pass through. This makes frosted glass ideal for both privacy and aesthetic appeal.

Why Opt for Frosted Glass

Frosted glass, along with providing a great degree of privacy also allows for light transmission, eliminating the need for artificial lights, especially during the daytime. The translucent surface of the glass diffuses light uniformly and facilitates optimal glare management. This creates a pleasant atmosphere inside your home. Frosted glass is also a great alternative to blinds, drapes or curtains, especially in the bathrooms. Many people find curtains and blinds in the bathroom a huge hassle to maintain. For such, the use of frosted glass becomes a good option.

Just because you are using frosted glass as privacy glass, it does not mean that you have to forego the visual look of your home. Frosted glass is available in a wide range of designs, thus, providing not only functionality but also aesthetic appeal. It is also highly resistant to scratches and does not require much maintenance. 

When looking for frosted glass in the market, opt for AIS Krystal frosted glass for your homes. AIS Krystal frosted glass is a premium-quality range of frosted glass offered by AIS Glass that can easily increase the level of privacy in your homes. Apart from being an incredible privacy glass, AIS Krystal frosted glass is also available in various designs that can add a distinctive look to your homes. If privacy, security, and visual appeal are your needs, AIS Krystal is what you should be looking for.

Smart Glass

Contemporary homeowners are constantly looking for ways to align their lifestyles in tune with new technology and global trends. Glass has evolved and has proven itself to be a material that can keep up with the modern times. The most intelligent privacy glass that you can incorporate in your homes is the smart glass or switchable glass. Smart glass or switchable glass is a type of glass whose light transmission properties go through a change whenever voltage, light, or heat is applied. This glass can turn from transparent to translucent or opaque and vice versa. The smart glass allows you to block visibility and control privacy as per your convenience, with the switch of a button. Incorporating smart glass in your home can lend a rich and suave feel to the interiors.

Why Opt for Smart Glass

Apart from privacy, smart glass also offers a host of other functions. It allows for the control of different forms of light such as visible light, infrared light (IR), and especially ultraviolet (UV) rays. As smart glass helps in blocking UV rays, it becomes quite beneficial for protecting your skin. It also prevents the furniture or fabric near your windows from fading.

Smart glass can also help in making your home more energy-efficient. It allows more natural light to invade the interiors of your home. This reduces your heating requirements during winter. During the summers, smart glass can help reduce solar glare, in turn lowering your usage of air conditioning systems – lower energy bills. The best part about smart glass is that it is extremely easy to use. With just a press of a button, you can regulate the amount of light that gets through it.

If you are in the market looking for the best smart glass for your homes, AIS Swytchglas is your ideal pick. AIS Swytchglas is a smart glass offering by AIS Glass that gives you the power to control privacy as well as transparency. AIS Swytchglas is the glass that can strike the perfect balance between style, sophistication, and necessity.   

So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today and avail of 360-degree glass solutions for all your privacy needs!

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How Do You Manage Efficiency of Work With Day Light

Form always follows function and never the other way around. This is the fundamental principle of design and architecture since time immemorial. The essence of this doctrine iterates that the function of a building should decide its composition. Recognising the true purpose behind any construction is the primary condition for its design. A physical place of work, therefore, should motivate an employee to feel productive, and the infrastructure of that place has a huge role to play in the psyche of an individual. 

Productivity at Work Is Higher Under the Gleaming Sun

Countless studies have proven that humans have an unrelenting need to experience ample daylight routinely to stay productive. The reason behind this is our body’s circadian rhythm.

The human circadian rhythm is our body’s natural clock which makes us feel and do certain things during certain times of the day. There is a reason why most of us do not feel like going to work at night or sleeping during the day. There exists insurmountable evidence that daylight keeps the circadian rhythm in check. Messing up this rhythm pushes humans into feelings of depression, disruptive sleep patterns, lethargy, dysfunctionality, etc. Exposing your body to natural light during the day and darkness during the night ensures a healthy circadian rhythm which elevates functionality.

Therefore, efficiency at work is closely linked with daylight. Studies conducted by the Lighting Research Centre at the Rensselaer Institute in New York have concluded that employees in offices with little or no natural light spend lesser time on their work stations as compared to employees working in windowed offices with ample daylight. The positive impacts of natural light on productivity make a compelling case to incorporate daylight while designing buildings, both residential and commercial.

It can be comfortably said that daylight ensures efficiency and productivity by improving employee alertness, improving the indoor experience (employees find it more comfortable to sit on their desks for longer), and leading to feelings of higher positivity and energy.

How Do You Achieve Optimal Daylight Management in Offices?

You achieve it through the right kind of glass. It is as simple as that! Modern-day architects understand the need for gargantuan glass windows in offices, through which pure daylight can enter. Moreover, modern-day glass solutions come with energy-efficiency and optimal glare management features, ensuring that while optimum natural light enters into a space, it does not disrupt work by bringing in unnecessary heat and glare with it.

Factors to Consider While Choosing Glass for the Workplace

Be Wary of Energy Inefficiency

The standard glass absorbs a lot more heat compared to most materials. Therefore, it makes economic sense to choose a glass that does not absorb much heat and saves energy required to heat up or cool down an office building. Glass with high energy-efficiency clubbed with aesthetics will complete the utility spectrum for commercial buildings.       

Define Your Visual Needs 

Identify the window direction, the glare possible and the amount of privacy required. If you have an east-facing office overlooking the street, get a tinted double-glazed window glass. The tint is for added privacy. The double glazing is to increase the strength and reduce the solar potency and the subsequent glare which is the highest during the day. You can also opt for switchable or smart glass that offers you the freedom to control its opacity levels with a hand-held remote device. Moreover, you get the added benefit of having privacy on demand.

Adjust Artificial Lighting to Suit Daylighting, Not the Other Way Around

This is a no-brainer. If artificial lighting is required during the day along with the natural light, reduce the former’s potency. Bright artificial lighting during the day culls the efficacy of natural light that ushers in through ginormous glazed windows.

Consider Ultraviolet (UV) Protection

Sunlight that reaches us is made up of UV-A and UV-B rays. While glass filters out UV-B rays, the UV-A rays are deeper and get through the glass. This may cause skin damage and irritation. If your building’s direction eats up too much sunlight, then consider investing in glass solutions that offer UV protection.

Which Glass Works Best for Daylight Inclusion?

The solution is a high-performance and energy-efficient glass which allows for day light inclusion, but absorbs and reflects away UV rays and near-range infrared heat. A good example would be the Ecosense Exceed Solar Control Low-E glass manufactured by AIS Glass. This range provides a complete solution by keeping indoor spaces brighter and cooler while allowing a good amount of natural light to seep through.

Investing and procuring the best quality glass is critical for not just the design of your commercial complex, but also for the productivity of the employees working within that structure. The experts at AIS Glass understand this, which is why we are a leading player manufacturing high-performance, heat-reflective, energy-efficient glass solutions. The Ecosense Exceed Solar Control Low-E glass by AIS provides the perfect blend of energy efficiency and daylighting coupled with the benefits of visual and thermal comforts. Gift your employees the workspace they deserve with AIS Ecosense glass range.

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AIS Swytchglas in Offices: Bolstering Privacy & Productivity

An office space needs to have an energy that keeps you positive and your productivity up. Privacy is also a concern for many who feel that that a quiet, interrupted environment suits their working style. So, how can one inculcate elements of privacy in a commercial space like an office where airiness and ventilation are conducive for a positive environment?
The answer lies in installing smart glass solutions for your office. Glass has always been a popular addition to offices around the globe, often replacing walls and whiteboards in many spaces. The latest technology is focused on improving the functional aesthetics of the glass with energy-efficient and sound-proofing leading the pack. Another technological marvel is the invention of switchable glass that can transform from a transparent glass to an opaque one in a matter of seconds.

AIS Swytchglas is one such example. Made with polymer dispersed crystals (PDC), the glass can switch from transparent to translucent and vice-versa, at the press of a button. When the power supply associated with the glass is switched off, the crystals are randomly scattered, deeming the glass opaque and creating the desired private ambiance. When one “switches” the glass on, the current makes the crystals reorient themselves, making the glass transparent, inviting more light and providing spatial illusion to the surroundings.
Associated benefits with this glass are plenty, the biggest one being that it gives you your privacy without creating a claustrophobic environment. The transparent glass wall also creates the illusion of an increased space and imparts a contemporary vibe to the interiors. An ideal addition to conference rooms, private cabins or hall partitions, the glass can be turned off when private conversations or meetings need to be held, and turned on when one needs the interiors to be more illuminated.
Another function of this glass is doubling up as a rear projection screen for presentations or videos, the smooth surface justifying sharp clarity for projected visuals. This smart glass can also be an efficient window glass with the translucent to opaque window providing sufficient light, and thus eliminating the need for installing curtains or blinders on the window. Instant sunshine or instant shade can now be controlled with a remote.
The combination of such functionalities and clean aesthetics is a rarity in the world, making a switchable glass like Swytchglas extremely desirable for office spaces. This glass has made it easier to attune the aesthetics of the working environment as per personal preferences at any time or day.

Categories

AIS Swytchglas in Offices: Bolstering Privacy & Productivity

An office space needs to have an energy that keeps you positive and your productivity up. Privacy is also a concern for many who feel that that a quiet, interrupted environment suits their working style. So, how can one inculcate elements of privacy in a commercial space like an office where airiness and ventilation are conducive for a positive environment?

The answer lies in installing smart glass solutions for your office. Glass has always been a popular addition to offices around the globe, often replacing walls and whiteboards in many spaces. The latest technology is focused on improving the functional aesthetics of the glass with energy-efficient and sound-proofing leading the pack. Another technological marvel is the invention of switchable glass that can transform from a transparent glass to an opaque one in a matter of seconds.

AIS Swytchglas is one such example. Made with polymer dispersed crystals (PDC), the glass can switch from transparent to translucent and vice-versa, at the press of a button. When the power supply associated with the glass is switched off, the crystals are randomly scattered, deeming the glass opaque and creating the desired private ambiance. When one “switches” the glass on, the current makes the crystals reorient themselves, making the glass transparent, inviting more light and providing spatial illusion to the surroundings.

Associated benefits with this glass are plenty, the biggest one being that it gives you your privacy without creating a claustrophobic environment. The transparent glass wall also creates the illusion of an increased space and imparts a contemporary vibe to the interiors. An ideal addition to conference rooms, private cabins or hall partitions, the glass can be turned off when private conversations or meetings need to be held, and turned on when one needs the interiors to be more illuminated.

Another function of this glass is doubling up as a rear projection screen for presentations or videos, the smooth surface justifying sharp clarity for projected visuals. This smart glass can also be an efficient window glass with the translucent to opaque window providing sufficient light, and thus eliminating the need for installing curtains or blinders on the window. Instant sunshine or instant shade can now be controlled with a remote.

The combination of such functionalities and clean aesthetics is a rarity in the world, making a switchable glass like Swytchglas extremely desirable for office spaces. This glass has made it easier to attune the aesthetics of the working environment as per personal preferences at any time or day.