Be Careful, Smart Glass Will Make You Spend More Money

People often mention in their visions of the future that we will be able to manipulate the transparency of glass. In fact, in real life, there are sunglasses that can adjust the color depth according to the intensity of sunlight. So, some people cannot help but ask, why can't we use such technology at home or in the workplace?

This day may be just around the corner. A colorful tomorrow's world is about to arrive, and as a mini city constructed of steel, cement, and countless glass, airports are full of interest in such a world. In an experiment conducted in the fall of 2017, Dallas Fort Worth Airport replaced the glass next to a boarding gate with a new type of "smart glass" that can adjust transparency based on sunlight intensity. This is obviously done to protect passengers from direct sunlight, but it also brings a more profitable benefit.

Alcohol Sales Soar

This experiment aims to test whether this View Dynamic glass can improve passenger satisfaction in a small area of the terminal building, specifically the seats at the A28 boarding gate, which is suffering from the scorching Texas sun, and the bar facing east at a hamburger storefront.

The results show that cooler and darker bars encourage consumers to drink one or two more drinks. In October 2017, alcohol sales surged by 80% compared to the same period in 2016, with the only change being the installation of electrochromic glass. Alcohol sales accounted for 17% of the restaurant's total revenue in October 2017, compared to only 9% a month ago and 8% in October 2016.

The airport has drawn a clear conclusion from this experiment: reducing the intensity of light and sunlight at the window bar will make people stay longer and spend more money.

For many years, airport management has been analyzing the correlation between passengers' perceptions and consumption, and the "stay time" in the terminal is a key factor: people often pass through New York's terrible LaGuardia Airport as soon as possible, but linger for a long time at well-known airports such as Seoul, Singapore, and Munich. After passing through security checks, passengers who are relaxed usually spend more money waiting for boarding. The management believes that as the fourth busiest airport in the United States, Dallas Fort Worth Airport is expected to benefit from this color changing glass.

We have seen significant changes, "said Casey Norton, a spokesperson for Dallas Fort Worth Airport. He said that the restaurant had complained to the airport about sluggish business, 'they speculate it may be because it's too hot' and consumers can't stay for long.

This technology aims to weaken light, increase indoor shade, and thereby lower temperatures. Its function is similar to the windows of Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner: transparency can be reduced or increased through buttons.

Increase Income

A design professor from Cornell University conducted a tracking study at Dallas Fort Worth Airport and found that the surface temperature of the seats and carpets around this boarding gate decreased by 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit (5-7.5 degrees Celsius). Compared to nearby boarding gates that use ordinary glass, passengers' stay here increased by 53%. The revenue around the boarding gate has also increased.

Due to the extensive use of glass curtain walls in airport buildings, their management may wish to utilize this technology to increase revenue.

American airports may also require such additional revenue. At present, major airports are experiencing financial shocks, and this type of glass will improve the catering and retail performance within the airport. The rapid popularization of ride sharing services has dealt a heavy blow to one of the main sources of cash for airports: parking revenue. According to the latest survey by the Airports Council International North America, parking and ground transportation account for about 40% of airport revenue in North America, while food and beverage revenue is the fastest-growing part of airport franchising business.

Currently, many companies and schools have installed this type of glass, including Boston Logan Airport; Delta Air Lines Inc., used for a lounge at Seattle Airport; Duke University; FedEx Corporation; Levi's Stadium; LinkedIn Corporation; And Wells Fargo&Co.

San Francisco International Airport is spending $2.4 billion renovating Terminal 1, including $3 million for the purchase of electrochromic glass. Dallas Fort Worth Airport also plans to tender for approximately 500000 square feet (46000 square meters) of this type of glass for use in boarding gates and franchise areas with sun exposure issues.

Airports are just one of the few markets targeted by "smart glass" manufacturers. In addition to meeting people's comfort needs, they are also promoting this type of glass to industries such as real estate, which can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20%. Bami stated that although the installation cost is 20-30% higher than traditional glass, the expected energy savings during the building's lifecycle will far exceed this cost, so for many commercial projects, this is an issue that does not need to be considered.

Bami said that consumers' awareness of this type of glass is gradually deepening, but most people are not aware that the construction industry has begun to adopt them. He said, 'The most common reaction we get is,' Why didn't people think of it before? '