Daylight Computer CEO interview: Healthy Computing, Sunlight Readable Transflective LCD Display

Anjan Katta, founder and CEO of Daylight Computer https://daylightcomputer.com/ inspired by some of my early videos on Pixel Qi, E Ink, Liquavista, Mirasol, Memory LCD, CH-LCD, and other explorations of reflective and sunlight-readable display technologies sparked a deep interest and his research that eventually led him to create the company. After years of research, experimentation, and personal exploration into e-paper technologies, he set out on a mission to build healthier, distraction-free computing devices. At the heart of Daylight Computer's vision lies a profound philosophical commitment: technology should augment human cognition, not diminish it.

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Thanks to SEL Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. https://www.sel.co.jp/en/ for being my Display Week 2025 sponsor.
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Daylight Computer achieves this goal by pioneering an advanced transflective LCD display—reminiscent of the groundbreaking Pixel Qi technology, yet significantly evolved. Extensive refinements to resolution, refresh rate, viewing angles, contrast, and reflectance have resulted in a device that can be comfortably used in sunlight, reduces eye strain, and protects the user's circadian rhythm by minimizing exposure to disruptive blue light. Through careful attention to details like flicker-free backlighting, diffusion, and a textured surface that feels genuinely paper-like, Daylight aims to create a computing experience that is gentle on both the eyes and the mind.

Daylight's vision is driven by an understanding that the quality of human thought is directly influenced by the tools we use. Conventional screens often lead to physical discomfort and cognitive fatigue—conditions that negatively impact productivity, creativity, and emotional well-being. By shifting away from emissive color displays and choosing to embrace grayscale reflective technology without color filters, Daylight Computer achieves remarkable reflectivity and contrast, resulting in a highly readable, paper-like experience. This choice is not merely technical, but symbolic: it represents a shift toward calm, thoughtful interactions with digital information, aligning technology more closely with human biology.

The decision to remove color filters from the display wasn't just practical; it was aligned with Daylight’s belief that thoughtful computing doesn't necessarily need vibrant colors that overstimulate and distract. Instead, the device focuses on grayscale clarity, ensuring excellent readability in diverse lighting environments—indoors, outdoors, day, and night. By doing so, it invites users to slow down, think clearly, and engage deeply with content, promoting a more mindful interaction with technology.

The founder’s dedication has involved extensive global exploration—from conferences and factory visits in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Europe—to deeply understand and perfect reflective display technologies. This meticulous effort led to an innovative transflective LCD design optimized at every layer—from eliminating parallax and blur to fine-tuning optical performance and touch sensitivity. The resulting product embodies years of passionate inquiry and relentless attention to detail, and I am happy some of my videos helped him in his outreach and research.

Looking forward, Daylight envisions a three-phase evolution for digital paper: first, mastering personal productivity; second, creating "magical paper" experiences empowered by intuitive AI and handwriting recognition; and third, enabling collaborative paper—turning individual notes and annotations into shared insights, fostering communities that collectively engage with the world’s knowledge. This vision that we discuss in this video, could position Daylight not just as a device manufacturer but as an enabler of intellectual communities, reimagining how knowledge is read, shared, annotated, discussed and amplified.

Daylight Computer also holds profound potential for education. Inspired by visionary ideas such as Alan Kay’s Dynabook and Neal Stephenson’s Primer, the founder imagines the Daylight tablet as a healthier, curiosity-driven educational tool. Rather than bombarding children with overstimulating screens, Daylight provides a calm, reflective computing environment optimized for learning, discovery, and creativity. With built-in AI designed to assist rather than distract, the device could become a foundational tool for nurturing children's intellectual curiosity and specialization from an early age.

Ultimately, Daylight Computer’s mission transcends mere technological innovation—it is fundamentally about reshaping our relationship with technology. The company's reflective display technology embodies a powerful philosophical stance: that healthier computers can enhance our cognitive capacities, improve our emotional and physical well-being, and empower the next generation of learners and creators to thrive.

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