At the world's largest trade fair for transport technology, where it will feature as a replacement for windows in a concept train from Germany's national railway company, there will be a display from the company, called "Transparent OLED for Subway Trains". Depending on what the window is showing, it can be transparent or opaque. The show in Berlin is being used to expand transparent panel sales.
We can see transparent displays in action within a number of subway trains in Beijing, Shenzhen and Fuzhou, as well as within some of Japan's overground trains, thanks to the fact that they are supplied by the same company. It feels like we are in a world that was teased to us by Star Trek when we see the transition between a subway map and a screen showing station layout.
It is possible to replace standard train windows with the technology because it uses special glass that is stronger and more resistant to impact. The company suggests some useful applications for the tech, such as displaying maps, news, and weather forecasts on screen while transparent, so that they retain their use as an actual window.
I'm concerned about advertising, as it's another use for the technology. If commercials replaced the gloomy view we see on subway networks, would I be discouraged? I have reservations about it being used on overground rail systems.
Let the windows be windows.
One of the best things about living outside of a major city is being able to commute by train and see the landscape outside. The experience could be lost depending on the number of ads. Maybe I am already frustrated by similar innovation that replace perfectly good windows with electronic displays but regular windows are fine. Let the windows be windows.
In addition to North America, Europe, Japan, and China, the company says it is looking to expand the use of its transparent organic light emitting devices. It's just a matter of time before they get to use a public transportation system near you.
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