In this latest MedCram video, Dr. Seheult explores how technology can help people access the benefits of sunlight—even in winter and even in dense urban environments. While traveling to a sunny destination like Sydney in December may solve the problem temporarily, it is neither practical nor affordable for most people to chase summer across hemispheres. Instead, emerging tools now allow us to locate, optimize, and even recreate sunlight exposure in more accessible ways.
What is Shadow Map?
The first innovation discussed is an application called Shadow Map, created by founder Georg Molzer. The idea was born during a winter in Vienna when he went two weeks without seeing direct sunlight due to low solar angles and tall surrounding buildings. As an engineer with a background in computer science and visualization, he envisioned a tool that could show exactly where the sun would be at any given time and where shadows would fall within a city. Years later, that idea became a fully realized platform.
Shadow Map functions like a three-dimensional map layered with a precise solar model. Users can move the sun’s position throughout the day or across seasons and instantly see how buildings, trees, and terrain cast shadows. The tool provides detailed analytics, including yearly and seasonal sunlight exposure on specific surfaces. This has significant implications for individuals considering real estate purchases, urban dwellers trying to find morning sunlight in winter, or even those planning a visit to a park or café at a particular time of day. In dense cities where ground-level winter sunlight can be nearly impossible to access, this level of predictive modeling becomes especially valuable.
The application has expanded beyond personal use. Real estate platforms such as Redfin have integrated Shadow Map’s solar simulation tools into property listings, allowing potential buyers to see average sun hours in June versus December and even simulate shadow patterns across the year. Because the system models surfaces in full three dimensions, it also provides useful analytics for rooftop and façade solar panel planning, calculating sunlight hours and kilowatt-hour potential across seasons. The free version allows users to explore current-day sunlight and modify 3D surroundings, while subscription tiers unlock year-round analytics and advanced visualization tools. The platform is web-based, accessible via shadowmap.org, and also available as an iOS application.
What is a Daylight Computer?
Of course, finding sunlight is only part of the equation. Once outside, many people still need to remain productive. Standard smartphones and laptops are poorly designed for outdoor use; screens overheat, become dim in bright light, and emit blue-heavy light that can strain the eyes and disrupt circadian rhythms. To address this issue, Tristan Scott introduced a device called the Daylight Computer, developed by his company Daylight Computer. The goal is to reconnect users with natural environments rather than tether them to artificial indoor lighting.
Unlike traditional backlit LED screens, the Daylight Computer uses a reflective display similar to e-paper, meaning it reflects ambient light instead of competing with it. This allows the device to function effectively outdoors without overheating or washing out in bright sunlight. The display supports high refresh rates of up to 120 frames per second, enabling web browsing, email, note-taking, and video playback while maintaining a paper-like appearance. By design, it omits color and a camera to reduce overstimulation, encouraging the device to function more as a tool than as a source of constant digital distraction. It runs a custom version of Android, supports app downloads, and can connect to keyboards, effectively functioning as a lightweight laptop alternative.
An additional feature is its amber, blue-light-free backlight for evening use. This reduces circadian disruption and eye strain compared to conventional blue-dominant screens. The broader vision is to allow people—including students and professionals—to work outdoors during daylight hours, gaining the biological benefits of natural light exposure without sacrificing productivity. More information about the device can be found at daylightcomputer.com, with a specialized version for children available through their kids-focused platform.
What is a Sunbath?
The final innovation addresses a different barrier: cold weather. In northern climates, even when sunlight is available, frigid temperatures limit meaningful exposure. Eric Rose, living in the mountains of Tennessee, sought a way to access full-spectrum sunlight during winter months without enduring freezing conditions. After researching materials used in high-end greenhouse architecture, he discovered ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) film, a durable material capable of transmitting over 90 percent of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. Unlike typical glass or plastic, which often blocks ultraviolet and portions of infrared wavelengths, ETFE allows nearly the full solar spectrum to pass through while also diffusing light for privacy.
Rose developed what he calls a “sunbath,” an insulated enclosure constructed with ETFE film and commonly available framing materials. Even on an 18-degree Fahrenheit winter day, stepping inside the enclosure provided warmth largely due to transmitted infrared radiation. The kit he now offers includes specialized ETFE film and mounting components, allowing users to construct their own insulated solar enclosure using lumber and foam insulation. For individuals in colder states such as Montana or Maine, this approach provides a way to access ultraviolet-driven vitamin D production and infrared warmth without the limitations imposed by conventional windows, which typically block large portions of the infrared spectrum.
Together, these technologies represent a growing awareness that sunlight is not merely aesthetic but biologically essential. Whether through predictive mapping to locate urban sun exposure, reflective display devices that enable outdoor productivity, or architectural materials that transmit the full solar spectrum in winter conditions, innovation is increasingly aligning with human physiology. As research continues to highlight the importance of light for mitochondrial health, circadian regulation, mood, and overall well-being, these practical tools offer meaningful ways to restore a connection that modern indoor life has steadily diminished.
LINKS / REFERENCES:
Shadowmap (Shadowmap) | https://shadowmap.org
Daylight Computer (Daylight Computer) | https://daylightcomputer.com
Daylight Computer for Kids (Daylight Computer) | https://kids.daylightcomputer.com
DIY Sunbath Kit (Eight Laws Innovation) | https://eightlawsinnovation.com