SONTE film works like an ultrathin LCD TV. It consists of a layer of conductive liquid-crystal polymer sandwiched between layers of PET plastic. Users trim the film to the size of the window and smooth it onto the glass. A semipermanent adhesive holds the film in place. Each kit comes with a quarter-size clip, which attaches to a corner of the film and plugs into a Wi-Fi–enabled electrical transformer. Once connected, users can control the panel with either an app or a traditional switch. When on, a current flows through the liquid-crystal layer, adjusting its polarity and turning the panel transparent. SONTE plans to upgrade the system’s transformer with additional wireless radios so it can sync with devices that use popular home-automation standards, such as ZigBee. Connected to a smart home, the windows could be programmed to tint or detint automatically based on the temperature.
SONTE Film
UV Protection: 99 percent Power: 4-5 watts/meter2 Price: $290/meter2 (est.) This article originally appeared in the January 2014 issue of Popular Science.
