Imagine this: the members of Rusted Root, the Nineteen Nineties world music band that has been haunting us in automotive commercials and romantic comedies for two a long time, suddenly determine to reinvent themselves as tech entrepreneurs. They pack their bags, move to San Francisco and start a computer company. What would a product launch event seem like? Well, I imagine it might be just like the scene unfolding before us.
A special sort of inauguration
In front of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, there is a constant parade on the trail of the strangeness that is still San Francisco. Middle-aged couples wearing black Patagonia vests parade their designer dogs, stopping to say hello and ask about the name, breed and age of their canine companions. One couple sits side-saddle on a giant, shiny whale sculpture, taking in the scene and wondering what the hell is going on at the top of the flower hill.
A crowd of about two hundred employees, friends, family and a few scattered members of the press mill around, slowly munching on half-burritos and hummus wraps and sipping cold kombucha. There have not been so many knots and dreadlocks in Golden Gate Park since the drums last weekend. There is not much chatting among the young techno-hippie population, as small groups stand in circles and chat quietly among themselves.
However, what has grow to be the norm in such situations, with people staring at smartphones, taking selfies and posting on social media, is clearly missing. There are hordes of skilled photographers and videographers milling around, but when I pull out my iPhone to take a few photos, I’m met with sharp stares as if I had just cursed at the preacher during his Sunday sermon. This is an emerging anti-tech crowd, a group of rebels who are pushing back against technology domination with much more technology. When I notice a few people using smartphones, they do it discreetly.
Welcome to sunlight
We are in a very expected place launch of the Daylight Computer tablet, a latest e-ink wonder that boldly guarantees to vary the very nature of our relationship with technology. Apart from the invitation, what lured us here today was the product launch video. If you have not seen it yet, take a moment to look at it because it’s a standalone masterclass in copywriting and visual media.
Set outdoors, depicting sunny days on hilltops, forested trails, and quiet meditation retreats, the ad shows young, beautiful people smiling and using a sleek tablet in broad daylight. It is presented as a tool that could be used in a more natural way, a latest style of device that can restore our balance with nature. For almost $800, you may regenerate and renew yourself, restore the vitality in your life that technology has taken away, and fall into a peaceful sleep while reading and basking in the soft, amber glow.
Back to reality, we are invited to the Conservatory of Flowers in small groups of 4 at a time to experience the computer of daylight in the tropical air, surrounded by many lush green plants, colourful flowers and giant koi fish idly gliding in the pool. There is a soundtrack somewhere, playing the calls of exotic birds and the sounds of the forest, breaking the silence as we inhale the scent of flowers, earth and moisture.
Computer tablets are strewn here and there on the rocks and among the quiet seating areas, as if we simply stumbled upon them on our day hike, as if someone dressed in recycled footwear and fabric had sat in that exact spot just moments earlier, drawing inspiration. from a poem or silently sketching a lotus flower with a Wacom stylus. Perhaps they have just gone away to brew a fresh cup of green tea and will come back here to enjoy it tightly holding each hands, inhaling deeply the delicate scent of honey or passion flower.
Our moment in the sun
We finally have this miracle for ourselves, alone. We approach daylight, surrounded by hemp, inviting us to renewal. The tablet is lightweight and has a white frame. The screen has a sort of matte finish, a slight roughness that is nice to the touch. The valued e-ink is clear, sharp and responsive. Daylight runs a custom version of Android, so it’s familiar to make use of. We take a stylus and write a few lines, sketch a jungle frog or two. The texture gives the user the impression that the user is writing on paper as the push stylus exhibits little roughness, vibration, or friction.
Numerous work must have gone into eliminating the delay between the stylus and what you see on the screen, because the sensory effect of writing on paper is virtually impeccable. Gestures known from other tablets, comparable to zooming and panning, work well, and the screen responds to the touch in addition to to a stylus. This experience is as promised, it is indeed a tablet that works well in natural light, something we will use like books or like pen and paper. Then our short meditation is interrupted. The next group arrived and our time in the warm daylight got here to an end.
We move to the next station. This time around, the Daylight comes with a keyboard attached, highlighting its usefulness as a general computing device. The next moment Daylight plays a video that shows it isn’t a Gen X dad’s 2010 e-ink Kindle – it’s a real Android tablet after all. We follow the breadcrumbs and soon return to the Conservatory lawn to seek out a seat and wait for the keynote speech. Finally, a bearded, long-haired figure emerges from the shadows, wearing a mustard-colored down coat and a white hoodie, looking like the embodiment of a Silicon Valley corporate stereotype. A little bit of applause and a few “whoops” greeted Daylight CEO Anjan Katta as he took the stage.
In a candid but barely astonishing talk that would easily be mistaken for a guided meditation or therapy session, Katta departs sharply from the usual tech launch script. Instead of waxing poetic about the product’s features, the company’s grand vision, or the team’s exertions, Katta launches into a deeply personal and introspective monologue about his own struggles with self-love, musings on the nature of technology and the human condition, and the emotional toll of being a founder whose mother nervous that he would not uses his potential that he gained at Stanford University. It was a strange and unforgettable moment, but on further reflection it was high quality and fit with Daylight’s techno-hippie aesthetic.
Wellness luxury
So it was a little weird and different, but perhaps that is what we’d like in a world where technology increasingly shapes our lives and the pull of our devices seems inevitable. The very nature of recent technology has a profound impact on our behavior, continually drawing us into the lure of countless scrolling, notifications, and an onslaught of likes and shares. This is not something we will easily handle on our own. Creating products and habits that prioritize well-being and mindfulness over engagement and addiction would require concerted efforts from each individuals and the technology industry.
Daylight’s approach, while not perfect, is a step in that direction. By creating a device that is intentionally designed for use in a more thoughtful and considered way, the company challenges the concept that we are powerless over the influence of technology. It reminds us that we will shape our relationship with our devices, but only if we are willing to actively challenge the features that keep us tethered to screens. In the sense of
It’s value noting, nonetheless, that Daylight’s digital wellness vision comes with a premium price tag, which puts it firmly in the booming health and wellness industry. There are rumors that the company has raised at least $20 million from investors over the last six years. At a price of around $800 per unit and assuming a margin of 40%, Daylight would wish to sell between 75,000 and 125,000 tablets to interrupt even. While the sleek e-ink screen and promise of a more tech-savvy approach are undoubtedly appealing, it’s hard to assume that the average tablet user would pay such a high price for having fun with daylight.
Then again, the average tablet user is not Daylight’s goal demographic at all. In a world where health and wellness has grow to be a booming industry and a status symbol for those with disposable income, Daylight PC seems perfectly positioned to capitalize on the growing backlash against smartphone addiction and on-the-go lifestyles.
While Daylight’s focus on digital well-being is commendable, it is also value considering its potential usefulness for busy managers and professionals. The device’s sleek design and distraction-free interface can make it an attractive selection for people seeking to increase their productivity and concentration. The e-ink screen’s readability in a number of lighting conditions and responsive stylus can make it a worthwhile tool for taking notes during meetings or catching up on reading without being continually bombarded with notifications.
Daylight after sunset
As we proceed to grapple with the impact of technology on our lives, it is becoming increasingly clear that the solutions to our digital problems won’t be as democratized as we would really like. This is value remembering as the industry evolves towards artificial intelligence. Pursuing well-being and balance will likely be a privilege reserved for a few, while the remainder of us will proceed to be TikTok’s primary source of digital dopamine. Despite these challenges, we won’t help but feel hopeful. While it could not yet be perfect and available to everyone, it is a reminder that so long as there are corporations willing to challenge the establishment, there is potential for us to create a more sustainable and intentional relationship with technology. Maybe there’s a little bit of techno-hippie in us after all.