Daylight Computer Co.

Daylight Computer Co. is a San Francisco-based Public Benefit Company focused on what it describes as healthier personal computing. The company designs devices intended to reduce two characteristics associated with conventional displays: blue-light emission and screen flicker. Its stated objective is to create a “healthy computer,” combining the lower-distraction qualities of analog objects with the capabilities of digital technology. Founder and chief executive Anjan Katta began developing the concept in June 2018. The project was motivated in part by his own eyestrain and by the distracting nature of mainstream digital devices. Katta cited the Kindle as an inspiration, particularly the idea of an object that feels analog while retaining digital functionality. The early development process progressed from research and experimentation to a scientific prototype in 2020 and a proof-of-concept prototype in 2021. During the early research-and-development period, Katta reportedly spent $300,000 of his own money. The company later obtained a $12 million investment from current and former executives associated with companies including Oculus, Pinterest, and Dropbox. Daylight’s first commercial device was the Daylight DC-1, a tablet built around a monochrome transflective liquid-crystal display. The display is designed to remain legible outdoors and can be used indoors with an amber backlight. The tablet runs SolOS, a proprietary operating system based on Android 13. It weighs approximately 1.2 pounds and has a 60 Hz refresh rate, which the company presents as sufficient for video playback while retaining its low-distraction display philosophy. The DC-1 was introduced publicly at a 2024 launch event held at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The event reportedly attracted about 200 attendees. Later in 2024, Daylight sold out the first production run of 5,000 devices. In 2025, the product received additional public exposure when it was demonstrated by Danny Jones on The Joe Rogan Experience. Technology coverage from publications including Wired and VentureBeat framed Daylight as part of a broader reaction against always-on, attention-intensive consumer technology, sometimes characterizing its audience as “techno-hippies.” Daylight remains a niche hardware company whose identity is closely tied to display technology, reduced visual stimulation, and a critique of conventional personal-computing design. Publicly available information emphasizes the DC-1 and the company’s founding philosophy; details about its broader product roadmap, international distribution, ownership structure, and ongoing financial performance are not established here.

Daylight Computer Co. emerged from Anjan Katta’s attempt to design a computing device that would be less visually stressful and less distracting than conventional screens. Katta began the design process in June 2018, reportedly after experiencing eyestrain and becoming concerned about the attention demands of mainstream digital products. The Kindle served as an important conceptual reference: Katta wanted an object with the simplicity and physical presence of an analog product while still providing digital capabilities. The project’s early years were devoted to research and development. Katta created a scientific prototype in 2020 and a proof-of-concept prototype in 2021. During this period he reportedly invested $300,000 of his own money. The company later secured $12 million from current and former executives connected with technology companies including Oculus, Pinterest, and Dropbox. These funds supported the transition from experimental development toward a commercial hardware product. Daylight’s first release was the Daylight DC-1, a tablet designed around the company’s display philosophy. Rather than using a conventional bright, full-color screen, the DC-1 uses a monochrome transflective liquid-crystal display. The design is intended to provide outdoor readability and to avoid blue-light emission and screen flicker associated with many ordinary displays. An amber backlight allows indoor use. The tablet runs SolOS, an operating system based on Android 13, and has a 60 Hz refresh rate that supports video playback. Its reported weight is approximately 1.2 pounds. The company presented the DC-1 publicly at a 2024 launch party at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Approximately 200 people attended the event. Later in 2024, Daylight sold out its first run of 5,000 devices, providing an early indication of interest in its alternative approach to personal computing. In 2025, the DC-1 was demonstrated by Danny Jones on The Joe Rogan Experience. Media descriptions from Wired and VentureBeat situated Daylight within a cultural reaction to pervasive, attention-seeking technology, with coverage portraying the company as attempting to return computing to more idealistic or “hippie” principles. The term “techno-hippies” was used in describing the product’s intended constituency and broader appeal. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and remains publicly associated with the development of healthier, lower-distraction computing. Available reference material does not establish a complete account of Daylight’s ownership, distribution footprint, later products, or financial performance beyond the disclosed early development spending and investment.

1. 2025DC-1 demonstrated on The Joe Rogan Experience

   Danny Jones demonstrated the tablet on The Joe Rogan Experience.

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2. 2024Daylight DC-1 introduced

   The company launched its first device, the DC-1 tablet, at an event in San Francisco.

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3. 2024Initial production run sells out

   Daylight sold out the first production run of 5,000 DC-1 devices.

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4. 2021Proof-of-concept prototype completed

   The company created its first proof-of-concept prototype for the future product.

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5. 2020First scientific prototype

   Daylight’s development effort reached its first scientific prototype.

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6. 2018Design work begins

   Anjan Katta began developing a device intended to avoid blue light and screen flicker, motivated by eyestrain and concerns about digital distraction.

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Health-oriented, low-distraction personal computing that combines analog-inspired interaction with modern digital functionality.

• Daylight DC-1Tablet computer2024

  The DC-1 is Daylight’s first commercial device and the central expression of its healthier-computing concept. It uses a monochrome transflective liquid-crystal display intended to remain readable outdoors and to avoid the blue-light and flicker characteristics associated with many conventional screens. An amber backlight supports indoor use. The tablet weighs approximately 1.2 pounds, runs SolOS based on Android 13, and uses a 60 Hz refresh rate that can process video. Its design emphasizes reduced visual stimulation and lower distraction rather than conventional high-color multimedia performance.

• SolOSOperating system2024

  SolOS is the operating system used by the Daylight DC-1. It is based on Android 13 and provides the software foundation for Daylight’s alternative tablet experience. Public reference material identifies SolOS as the DC-1’s operating system but does not establish whether it is offered independently or used on additional products.

• 2024Daylight DC-1 launch event

  United States

  Daylight held a launch party for the DC-1 at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. The event reportedly drew roughly 200 attendees and introduced the company’s first commercial device to the public.

  Outcome. The initial production run of 5,000 devices later sold out.

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• 2024Launch the Daylight DC-1Product launch

  After prototype development beginning in 2018 and continuing through scientific and proof-of-concept stages, Daylight moved its display concept into a commercial tablet.

  What changed. The company introduced the DC-1 with a monochrome transflective LCD, amber backlight, SolOS software, and a 60 Hz refresh rate.

  Aftermath. The first 5,000-device production run sold out later in 2024.

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• 2018Adopt a healthier-computing product strategyStrategy

  Anjan Katta’s personal eyestrain and concerns about distraction from conventional digital devices led to the decision to pursue hardware that avoided blue light and screen flicker.

  What changed. Daylight focused its development around a low-distraction device using a monochrome display and an analog-inspired computing philosophy.

  Aftermath. The strategy resulted in the DC-1 tablet and became the defining basis of the company’s brand positioning.

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• 2025DC-1 receives demonstration on The Joe Rogan Experience

  Danny Jones demonstrated the Daylight DC-1 on The Joe Rogan Experience, giving the young hardware brand additional public exposure.

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• 2024Daylight Computer Co. launches the DC-1 tablet

  Daylight introduced its first device, the DC-1, a monochrome transflective tablet designed for outdoor readability, indoor use with an amber backlight, and reduced blue-light and flicker characteristics.

  Product launch
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• 2024Daylight sells out its first 5,000-device production run

  Following the DC-1 launch, the company reportedly sold all units in its initial production run of 5,000 tablets.

  Product launch
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1. Daylight Computer Co.