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It's bizarre to call this "transparent", given that it highly distorts light, even if it technically allows most of it through. It's actually a translucent mate

It's bizarre to call this "transparent", given that it highly distorts light, even if it technically allows most of it through. It's actually a translucent material. This also makes it horrible for windows, since people expect to actually see out of a window, we don't use windows just as sources of natural light.

giarc 2y ago
I think it could be used for skylights in houses, but also commercial buildings. I've been in a few grocery stores where they use skylights to provide natural light but people aren't really worried about seeing the clouds and sky in a grocery store. It could be a good option there.
masklinn 2y ago
> This also makes it horrible for windows, since people expect to actually see out of a window, we don't use windows just as sources of natural light. Not all of them. For some windows, the inability to see through is a feature not a bug. Privacy is a common reason to avoid transparent windows and giving up light is an unfortunate drawback. I’ve seen frosted greenhouses too, I assume the goal is to avoid lensing / ray effects going through the glass. As such, getting more light and scattered would be advantageous in many situations.
- erisinger 2y ago
  In Japan, houses and apartments usually have at most one transparent window. The rest are heavily frosted. It took a while to adjust to that model but once I did I wished we did this more in the US. You get more light during the day, since clear windows don’t actually let in that much light unless the sun is shining directly in, then it’s usually too much light. You have absolute privacy — you can walk around buck naked without having to draw a curtain anywhere. And, unless you happen to be in the minority and have a killer view, frosted glass makes it less distracting to be indoors. Random stuff going on outside doesn’t steal your focus at all. The fact is that for most people there really is t much to look at out their windows — a crumbling street, the neighbor’s fence, the wall of the apartment building next door, a parking lot. But of course if you do happen to have a killer view, you can always have a clear window in that direction.
  - masklinn 2y ago
    Oh the view's a good point, if your window faces the back of an other apartment building and all you have is a wall of AC you're better off with frosted glass.
bongodongobob 2y ago
Skylights, conference rooms, privacy windows, decorative. Plenty of uses for this.

giarc 2y ago

I think it could be used for skylights in houses, but also commercial buildings. I've been in a few grocery stores where they use skylights to provide natural light but people aren't really worried about seeing the clouds and sky in a grocery store. It could be a good option there.

masklinn 2y ago

> This also makes it horrible for windows, since people expect to actually see out of a window, we don't use windows just as sources of natural light. Not all of them. For some windows, the inability to see through is a feature not a bug. Privacy is a common reason to avoid transparent windows and giving up light is an unfortunate drawback. I’ve seen frosted greenhouses too, I assume the goal is to avoid lensing / ray effects going through the glass. As such, getting more light and scattered would be advantageous in many situations.

erisinger 2y ago
In Japan, houses and apartments usually have at most one transparent window. The rest are heavily frosted. It took a while to adjust to that model but once I did I wished we did this more in the US. You get more light during the day, since clear windows don’t actually let in that much light unless the sun is shining directly in, then it’s usually too much light. You have absolute privacy — you can walk around buck naked without having to draw a curtain anywhere. And, unless you happen to be in the minority and have a killer view, frosted glass makes it less distracting to be indoors. Random stuff going on outside doesn’t steal your focus at all. The fact is that for most people there really is t much to look at out their windows — a crumbling street, the neighbor’s fence, the wall of the apartment building next door, a parking lot. But of course if you do happen to have a killer view, you can always have a clear window in that direction.
- masklinn 2y ago
  Oh the view's a good point, if your window faces the back of an other apartment building and all you have is a wall of AC you're better off with frosted glass.

bongodongobob 2y ago

Skylights, conference rooms, privacy windows, decorative. Plenty of uses for this.