When considering home improvements, many homeowners are focused on energy savings and enhancing their living space. One effective solution is to install privacy windows from Quist Windows. These windows not only provide the necessary security but also allow homeowners to enjoy a more private environment. Additionally, the concept of a virtual window can be an innovative way to create the illusion of more space while maximizing natural light.
Quist Windows is a patented invention that transforms traditional glass windows into innovative privacy windows using a combination of resilient LED display panels and external cameras to create a 'live' virtual window experience. Invented by Julian P. Quist of Oregon and granted US Patent 12,101,579 B1 in 2024, this technology is designed to provide the feel of a window in environments where real windows are impractical or unsafe. The initial target markets for Quist Windows include military bunkers, secure facilities, and other high-security or windowless settings. This cutting-edge system competes with ballistic glass and traditional windows by offering enhanced security, energy savings, improved resilience, all-day visibility (including night vision), and better energy efficiency.
Standard glass shatters during gunfire and explosions, while ballistic glass offers some protection but can be compromised, damaged, and is costly to replace. Quist Windows, however, provide the same level of security as a solid wall. Plus, if the camera is destroyed, replacing it is affordable and straightforward. Additionally, Quist Windows contribute to energy savings and can serve as effective privacy windows, ensuring peace of mind without breaking the bank.
Bunkers and Underground Command Centers: In bunkers, windows are typically absent due to security and structural reasons. Personnel inside rely on periscopes or CCTV for outside awareness, often receiving only limited, narrow views. Installing Quist Windows in a bunker can greatly enhance situational awareness while also providing energy savings. By mounting large Quist display panels on interior walls—potentially where a window might have been if above ground—soldiers or officers can achieve a continuous panoramic view of the outside environment in real-time. If monitoring a perimeter, multiple external cameras can connect to several Quist Windows, offering a 360° view around the facility, all from the safety of inside. This setup effectively turns the bunker’s walls into virtual windows with wide fields of view. In combat situations, troops could utilize these privacy windows to observe approaching vehicles or personnel without risking a physical glance outside. Furthermore, the night-vision capability allows the bunker’s occupants to detect threats in darkness (such as enemy movement at 0200 hours) that would be invisible to the naked eye through a regular window. All of this is achieved without compromising the physical security of the bunker’s structure—the cameras can be tiny openings or camouflaged on the exterior, ensuring the bunker remains protected.
An intelligence officer is working late in an office featuring a window facing the base perimeter. It’s evening, and due to the sensitive work being conducted on the computer, the officer has closed the blinds on the glass window, possibly turning on a radio for some background noise. Outside, unbeknownst to the officer, a security situation is developing: there is suspicious movement near the fence, and a silent alarm has been triggered at the perimeter.
With a standard glass window, the blinds are shut—a common practice after dark for privacy, reducing glare on screens, and ensuring energy savings. The officers cannot see outside, and the radio might drown out distant noises. Essentially, even though a threat could be right outside, the officer remains oblivious, as the window is effectively non-functional, covered by blinds and looking out into darkness. The officer would only become aware if an alarm notification reaches them via phone or if a guard enters the room. This could result in precious minutes being lost. In the worst-case scenario, if the threat is immediate—such as an intruder or an explosion—the officer could be caught completely by surprise, leaving no time to react or take cover. Ironically, the closed blinds, originally meant for privacy, contribute to a total lack of situational awareness. If an intruder were to shoot through the window, the glass and blinds may provide limited protection.
With a Quist Window, however, there are no blinds needed since these privacy windows do not compromise inward privacy. The officer likely keeps the virtual window on out of habit, perhaps dimmed but still displaying the outside feed. The moment suspicious movement occurs near the fence, the camera captures it. Two things could happen: (1) The officer notices movement on the screen in their peripheral vision—perhaps a figure moving in the dark that triggers a subtle motion highlight on the display. The officer can immediately become alert, turn off the radio, and focus on that feed. This few seconds of early warning could allow the officer to initiate an alert or take defensive action (e.g., lock the door, grab emergency gear) even before formal alarms reach them. (2) If the Quist system is integrated with alarms, as soon as the perimeter alarm triggers, the Quist Window could flash a warning or switch to a zoomed-in view of the fence line, drawing the officer’s attention. In either scenario, the officer is aware of the threat almost in real-time. They are no longer a passive target but can respond: for instance, use the office PA or radio to alert soldiers or simply brace for impact, potentially saving their life. Additionally, the Quist Window’s recording would capture the incident; if something happened to the officer, the footage could reveal what occurred outside. From a protection standpoint, if the intruder tries to shoot at where the 'window' is, they are actually facing a hardened panel—the officer has better cover than with traditional glass.
Founder
Mechanical Engineer, Inventor, Problem Solver, Entrepreneur focused on energy savings and enhancing security through innovative solutions like Quist Windows, which feature privacy windows and virtual window technology.
Co-Founder
Engineer, Program Manager, provider of CapEx/OpEx solutions focused on energy savings, privacy windows, and security features like virtual windows, including the innovative Quist Windows.