Filmmaker Takes on the Challenge of Healthy Living

Jessica Solce, a filmmaker and her mother, found it quite frustrating to source healthy, all-natural products for their family. To simplify the search, she founded Solarium, a platform that curates reliable, third-party tested foods, clothing, beauty products, and more. Everything is free from harmful substances such as seed oils, endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens.

In this occasional column, she shares insights and recommendations she has gathered during her journey into health and wellness.

Last year, I visited Age of Light in Palacetra in San Salvador. I was eager to enhance my understanding of the connection between light and health. As anticipated, the event featured compelling speakers like Jacques Creuset, Sol Bla, and Erwan Le Cole, discussing the importance of reconnecting with red light therapy, photobiology, and natural light.

What I didn’t expect was for someone to unveil a new tablet.

Daylight’s live paper screen is gentle on young eyes, free from blue light and flickering. Children can read, draw, and learn without glare, even in bright sunlight.

This is exactly what Daylight Computer founder Anjan Katta did, launching the new DC-1 tablet as a groundbreaking approach to blending technology, light, and human health. “This aims to create a healthier, more humane computer that helps you build a better foundation in your life,” he stated.

iPad Kids

It’s surprising to learn that Apple founder Steve Jobs didn’t allow his children to use the iPad, fearing the addictive potential of the device. It seems he was onto something, considering the “iPad Kid” concept has become synonymous with kids who struggle when forced to part from screens. And it’s not just kids; adults can be affected too. After all, our reactions often reflect what we model for our children.

Research has established a clear link between screen time and developmental delays. For instance, one study found that children aged one who spent four or more hours daily on screens displayed communication and problem-solving delays by ages two to four, indicating possible neurological disruptions.

The potential long-term impacts of technology on both the brain and body are considerable. Katta, a Stanford Engineering graduate from 2016, knows this well—having experienced eye strain, sleep disruption, migraines, ADHD-like symptoms, and mood swings, all from excessive screen time. It became clear that there was a need for a healthier type of screen—one free from the harmful effects of blue light and continuous flickering, which was, at that time, still not on the market.

With this in mind, he made it his mission to create such a device. Six years later, the DC-1 was born.

Light as a Nutrient

If you’re engaged in health discussions online, you have likely come across Andrew Huberman’s notable talks on how light influences happiness, particularly regarding morning sunlight and circadian rhythms. The gist is that exposure to blue light at night disrupts sleep patterns. Additionally, sunlight aids in vitamin D production, which is crucial, particularly during gloomy winter months.

Light should be regarded as a crucial component of health, much like diet, exercise, and sleep. It is our most consistent environmental influencer, serving as a source of energy for our ecosystem. It regulates circadian rhythms, cellular functions, and energy production. More importantly, it affects how nutrients are utilized within our bodies.

From infrared to ultraviolet rays, the entire sunlight spectrum benefits our health. However, excessive exposure to certain portions, especially blue and ultraviolet light, can be problematic.

(I’d recommend checking out a three-part series about blue light, which delves into its effects on children’s health.)

Understanding Blue Light

Blue light is prevalent not just on mobile devices, tablets, and computers, but in our indoor environments, too. During daylight hours, blue light signals the brain, suppressing melatonin and raising cortisol levels. Prolonged exposure can disrupt circadian rhythms and contribute to various health issues, including insomnia, mood disorders, obesity, diabetes, and even some cancers.

These aren’t minor concerns; they worsen annually. We must reevaluate our relationships with light itself. No amount of “biohacking” can make up for a healthy lighting environment. Devices like the DC-1 and better indoor lighting solutions are essential as we strive to reconnect with nature.

The DC-1 addresses blue light issues by utilizing ambient light or soft red light as a backlight. Its display resembles E-Ink, but refreshes much more quickly due to patented live paper technology.

Additionally, it eliminates screen flicker. Unlike natural sunlight and incandescent bulbs, LED screens can strain our eyes and nervous systems, causing headaches, fatigue, and anxiety. Natural sunlight helps restore stability.

A Path to Healing

To truly address the damage technology can do, significant changes are necessary. However, meaningful transformation starts with the individual. Light affects mitochondrial function, and because mitochondrial DNA is hereditary, we—and future generations—are influenced by our light environment, not just our diets.

Simply stepping away from screens and getting outside can offer more health benefits than any supplement or medication.

Cutter’s innovation acknowledges both scientific principles and the natural world, resulting in a system that aligns with our biology, rather than against it.

Daylight’s live paper screen is gentle, especially for children, with no blue light and flicker. Kids can read, draw, and learn without distractions or glare, even in direct sunlight. With a stylus that feels like a pen, it encourages creativity and handwriting, promoting focus and tranquility. Essentially, it provides a tech solution that minimizes neurological chaos.

Adults reap benefits, too—the device reduces eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. It discourages mindless scrolling, allowing users to engage meaningfully with content.

Building Connections Without Addiction

The mission statement of Daylight Computer offers a much-needed shift in priorities. Katta asks the crucial question: “What are the fundamental defaults for the operating system that lead you to develop better habits?”

When the DC-1 was launched, Cutter mentioned that a phone might also be in the works. I’m looking forward to that, especially for kids. They deserve technology that fosters connection without promoting addiction.

Overall, I’m genuinely excited about the future growth of daylight computers, and I hope other innovators follow suit to develop technology that is geared not only toward productivity but toward enhancing human well-being.