Worried about burglars breaking in through your windows? Soon your windows will be able to "watch" for suspicious movement outside your home, and trigger an alarm if they sense a potential intruder.
The motion-sensing windows are a new development from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam-Golm and Computer Architecture and Software Technology FIRST in Berlin.
According to IAP group manager Dr. Burkhard Elling, the glass is coated with a special material containing nanoparticles that convert invisible UV light into fluorescent radiation. This radiation is channeled to the edges of the window, where it is detected by sensors. When the light is blocked by someone, the sensors trigger an alarm.
No need to worry about animals or passing cars setting off the alarm – the sensors can interpret size and light signals, and can be adjusted accordingly. The special coating can also be used on glass doors.
What a surprise for Peeping Toms – the windows are peeping back!
Photo credits: Mario Alberto Magallanes Trejo (person in window), Nicole McDaniel (blinds)
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Trend Themes
1. Motion-sensing Windows - Opportunity for innovation in developing windows with built-in motion sensors to enhance home security.
2. Fluorescent Nanoparticle Coating - Potential for disruptive innovation in creating coatings that convert UV light into fluorescent radiation for various applications.
3. Smart Glass Technology - Increasing potential for innovation in developing glass with advanced functionalities, such as surveillance capabilities.
Industry Implications
1. Home Security - Opportunity for companies to develop and market motion-sensing windows as a part of home security systems.
2. Coatings and Materials - Disruptive innovation potential in the coatings industry to create advanced materials, such as fluorescent nanoparticle coatings.
3. Smart Home Technology - Growing market for smart glass technology as part of the expanding range of interconnected devices in smart homes.