LCD window treatments - have they become affordable?

[cdev]

A few times in wealthy people's living spaces (bathrooms, typically) and on conference room windows, I've seen LCD film coated glass that can be turned on and off for privacy. Its very cool.

 When I looked into it (more than a decade ago) it was insanely expensive.

But now, whatever patent applied then has probably expired.  Does anybody know if similar LCD film is available in some form where its affordable- does the price ever come down?

[ebclr]

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=575973214570&ali_refid=a3_430582_1006:1109704437:N:%E8%A3%82%E7%BA%B9%E7%8E%BB%E7%92%83:18fc82dfcedcb2decf17443a3219fd72&ali_trackid=1_18fc82dfcedcb2decf17443a3219fd72&spm=a230r.1.14.8#detail

[jmw]

The type of material you're probably thinking of is called PDLC film and I believe it's still quite expensive in the neighborhood of $50-100 / sq ft. Its default state is opaque and power must be continuously applied (around 1/2 W / sq ft) to make it transparent, which is the opposite of what is most convenient for most applications.

Edit: a few years ago I was working for a company with deep pockets, a brand new office building, and a penchant for cool stuff like this, and we had a sample panel for evaluation. Ended up passing because it went against (literally) the culture of transparency, and the cost was through the roof compared to blinds in the few places and times they were needed.

[cdev]

Yes, thats it in spades. A fancy loft with a bathroom implemented in a corner of the space with both indoor and outdoor facing glass walls covered with this stuff.

Outside there was a busy SOMA street. 

When somebody went in the lights would come on and zap, the walls turned opalescent/but opague as far as seeing any more than that the light was on.

You could see this from the street if you knew where to look.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Search PDLC on Aliexpress

e.g.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/A5-SIZE-SAMPLE-OF-210-150mm-dark-gray-Smart-Switchable-Glass-Film/32583249502.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.9.7f6015dd6Hc95V&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10065_10068_10130_318_10547_319_10548_10696_10192_10190_10084_10083_10618_452_10307_10820_532_10301_10821_10303_5727311_204_10059_5727211_10884_10887_100031_320_10103,searchweb201603_60,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=18d14fef-1ba1-435f-babc-1a59c7603557-1&algo_pvid=18d14fef-1ba1-435f-babc-1a59c7603557&transAbTest=ae803_4&priceBeautifyAB=0


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Customized-smart-films-white-color-2pcs-500mmx1000mm-magic-PDLC-FILMS-used-for-car/32866071859.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.67.75a115dd5mUX4H&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10065_10068_10130_318_10547_319_10548_10696_10192_10190_10084_10083_10618_452_10307_10820_532_10301_10821_10303_5727311_204_10059_5727211_10884_10887_100031_320_10103,searchweb201603_60,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=f2bdcd07-eb2a-4b3d-b237-1e1fb9fc6aa4-10&algo_pvid=f2bdcd07-eb2a-4b3d-b237-1e1fb9fc6aa4&transAbTest=ae803_4&priceBeautifyAB=0