Windows and domes: past, present, and future

For the past 15 years, the SPIE Window and Dome Technologies and Materials Conferences have been a community focal point for dissemination of information on the state of the art in materials, properties, and design, evaluation, and test methods for high-performance windows. This paper reviews developments over that time, the current state of window development, and future expectations. Examples are used to illustrate both progress and the need for continued development.