Interactive Future Scene: Dynamic Window

Project Details

Categories SMC

What If…?

What if a window could provide more than just natural lighting and scenery?

Research

Smart glass can change tint, and transparent displays can show visuals on glass surfaces.
Are Smart Windows the future?. Advanced materials can change the way… | by Kyle Sandburg | Strategy Dynamics | Medium

Dynamic Window

By combining these, a window could switch between real views and simulated environments. A programmable window that lets users toggle between different visual states. One setting for the natural scenery, another for privacy (where the windows are blacked out from public view, like a darker tint), and the other for escapism, showcasing a fantasy-style scene.

Unity Code

I set up a window control system that changes materials, transparency, and video playback using keyboard input to simulate the dynamic window.

WindowToggle script:

  • Renderer[] glassRenderers → targets all window pieces

  • Material defaultMaterial → normal glass look

  • Material privacyMaterial → tinted/privacy mode

  • VideoPlayer videoPlayer → handles video playback

Key controls:

  • D key

    → Stops video

    → Applies default material

    → Sets alpha to 1 (fully visible)

  • P key

    → Stops video

    → Applies privacy material

    → Keeps alpha at 1 (tinted but visible)

  • S key

    → Plays video

    → Sets alpha to 0 (glass disappears)

Functions:

  • SetMaterial() → applies selected material to all renderers

  • SetAlpha() → adjusts transparency of the glass

Reflection & Next Steps

The initial goal was to create a dynamic window that could display different environments through interaction. I was inspired by modern-day projectors and how people use them to showcase fantasy windows. I imagine in the future our smart window technology would get better to allow the combination of programmable scenes. I would love to continue working on this to improve my Unity skills. I would like to continue improving my Blender skills. For this round I imported an fbx object and customized it, but I would like to get better at modeling my own so I can make more customized objects.