DATA CENTER CASE STUDY: PRESENTATION AND TOUR ALL IN ONE ROOM

Challenge: To provide a well-rounded presentation to potential clients, while at the same time giving a glimpse into the data center’s operations and equipment without violating any proprietary information. The data center desires to show prospects its cutting-edge technology and facility to a large group, if necessary, as efficiently as possible and without a lot of physical movement.

Solution: The use of PDLC technology solved the challenge quite elegantly. A large presentation/boardroom is strategically placed within the data center that is adjacent to a server room. The adjoining wall of the server room and boardroom is transformed into a glass wall with PDLC technology. A projector is placed inside the server room to rear project onto the wall, turning it into a LCD instantly so that prospects can see what is being presented in the boardroom without knowing where the image is really coming from. After the presentation, the PDLC wall is turned instantly clear, revealing the server room to the prospects.

MEDICAL CASE STUDY: REDUCTION IN BACTERIAL INFECTIONS AND INCREASED PRIVACY IN HEALTH-CARE SETTINGS

Challenge: Stubborn bacterial infections in hospital settings are a major problem affecting the health, well-being, and overall outcomes of patients. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) initiated a number of initiatives, including the Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI) Technology Innovation Programme. Its goal was to speed up the adoption of technologies to combat infections. Since 2004, as part of the program, it established the Rapid Review Panel (RRP) to provide independent recommendations on technologies that may be of value to the NHS in reducing infection.

The study’s findings, which were published in the Journal of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, showed that bacteria can be found on hospital privacy curtains at an alarming rate. Additonally, the research revealed that the bacteria can transfer onto the hands of people who handle the contaminated curtains, meaning health-care workers may be spreading these bacteria. The study found that 43 percent of privacy curtains were contaminated with Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), 22 percent of them with Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and 4 percent tested positive for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile).

The findings have brought attention to the very real issues of contamination and privacy control in health-care environments. This also comes at a time when health-care construction and refurbishment is on the rise so the need for innovative design and products is growing as well.

Solution: PDLC glass technology can help solve some of these challenges in the following ways:

• Helps reduce the spread of infection due to easily cleanable surfaces
• Staff and patients do not need to handle the glass as they would for curtains, thereby reducing the contact between people and materials.
• Cleaning smart glass is more cost effective and less time consuming than cleaning traditional partitioning materials.
• Smart glass partitioning allows patients to better control their surroundings, leading to improved patient privacy.
• Smart glass provides better soundproofing than traditonal materials, such as curtains, thereby enhancing patients’ ability to get sufficient rest.
• PDLC glass allows more light to come in, providing for a more holistic recovery process.

Source: SmartGlass International

Photos courtesy of Polytronix, Inc.

TERMS FOR SMART GLASS

Clear-to-opaque glass
Dimmable glass
Dynamic glass
Electric glass
Electronic glass
Intelligent glass
LCD glass
Liquid crystal glass
PDLC glass
Privacy glass
Smart glass
Smart windows
Switch glass
Switchable glass
Switchable privacy glass
Window tint