Why Are We Called WindowSight?
- News
- By Pol Rosset, CEO & Co-founder of WindowSight
A TV displaying “Window to MY World” by Michael Yamashita versus a switched-off black TV.
The First Digital Window
We wanted to create a window to the world. Not metaphorically, but quite literally. The first concept was to install live cameras in natural spaces — mountains, parks, places people dreamed of visiting. With that feed, you could turn on your TV and see Montserrat, La Mola, the Alps… as if your home had a window looking straight onto those landscapes.
And it wasn’t just an idea. We actually built it. We placed a camera facing La Mola, the iconic mountain near our hometown, Terrassa (Barcelona). It streamed an image every minute in real time. That image was displayed inside Traces or “tracks” in Catalan, a mountain gear shop owned by my father and uncle, — a shop that sold The North Face and other major brands. Customers walked in and saw a live digital window to the mountain.
That was, in a way, the first version of WindowSight.
The first version of WindowSight at the Traces Shop in Terrassa
When Technology Wasn’t Ready
But technology wasn’t ready. Streaming was limited. TVs weren’t smart enough. So we paused the project. I was still a kid back then, not even in university.
A Turning Point Years Later
Years later, while I was finishing university, we went on a family trip across the U.S. national parks: Yosemite, Yellowstone, Monument Valley… That journey, especially with my brother and father, brought the idea back. But this time, it was clearer.
We didn’t need to place cameras in every corner of the world. Artists and photographers were already doing it. They were capturing the beauty, the emotion, the essence of those places — not in real time, but in their best light. With care. With intention. With expertise!
And that changed everything.
Yosemite by Arturo Rodriguez
Joan Rosset, Oriol Rosset, and Pol Rosset watching the sun set over Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.
From Live Streams to the Soul of a Moment
Making Art as Accessible as Music
When I was a kid and visited exhibitions with my family, I remember feeling that I’d never see those artworks again. I couldn’t buy them. Even if I had the money, I wouldn’t have the space. Art felt like something limited to a few.
But music wasn’t like that. I could buy a CD and take it home. Listen to it anytime. Share it with others. Why couldn’t art be like that?
That became our mission: to make visual art as accessible as music. And the window, our original symbol, remained central to that idea.
Luci Morera and Pol Rosset testing an early version of the WindowSight mobile app (2021).
Naming What We Were Building
We had to name it. We knew we couldn’t use “Windows” (for obvious reasons — and yes, we actually had that conversation when registering the name!).
So we explored different names. We tested them with friends. We ran polls. And though we listened to feedback, we kind of knew already what the answer would be: WindowSight.
Because it captured exactly what we wanted to build: a window, and what you see through it.
A sight. A view. A portal.
So Why “WindowSight”?
Because it’s not Windows Site, not WindowSide, and not Window Sight (though we understand the confusion can come — especially from our Catalan accent when pronouncing it!).
It’s WindowSight: One word, Capital W and S
Because it combines the two things that define what we do: a Window to the world, and the Sight that inspires you.
It’s what you see when you keep your window (and your mind) open — not just a screen, but a living, intentional view into art, photography, and the imagination of creators around the world.
Oriol Rosset, Joan Rosset, and Pol Rosset outside the WindowSight offices in Terrassa.
Photography by Arnau Rosset.
The Story Behind Our Name
And that’s the story behind our name. That’s why we’re called WindowSight.
I hope you found it interesting to read! Thanks for your support and interest!
Pol Rosset
Cofounder and CEO of WindowSight
Questions?
Yes. WindowSight is free.
Our Supporter plans (Supporter or Supporter Plus) improve the streaming quality of your experience, get rid of ads, and have unlimited display options.
With Supporter plans, *50% of your net revenue goes directly to the artists, split based on how long you watch each one.
- Mobile: iOS and Android
- TV: Samsung TV, Android TV, LGTV, Apple TV and external devices.
See specifications here.
Make sure you are using the latest version for a smooth experience!
WindowSight is compatible with Android and Apple external devices. Learn how it works here.
Yes, only with a Business Account you can use the platform in public or commercial environments as WindowSight grants them the use of the content of the platform for public communications.
Contact us and get more information about the Business Account. Free, Basic and Premium accounts are only for private use and purposes.
