Virtual Sun - Controllable indoor ultra-realistic skylight with sun

@lsinger Thanks! Because this is integrated into buildings during construction or remodel it is typically purchased through a more complicated process where the Lighting Designer/Architect specifies the product and designs it into the building and later the general contractor puts out the electrical portion for bid electrical contractors who then build from an electrical distributor who might offer credit. Pricing can vary a bit depending on what each of these people charge for mark-ups. In most cases we are able to sell directly to end customers for just under $10k USD. Pricing and ceiling space requirements (you need 10 inches) are two big factors to consider. We are seeing a lot of interest for installing into the high end home segment and commercial spaces. We were able to reduce cost and depth by 30% from our first prototypes, as we continue to improve on these factors it will make it applicable to an even wider set of projects.

@jonathan_clark2 Super interesting, thanks for explaining the background!

@pete_collison thanks!

@jaredzimmerman You can install 5-6 Virtual Sun units for the same cost as one Coelux. You might find this comparison interesting: https://tinyurl.com/y4o8q8es Some unique aspects of Innerscene include: - Innerscene's sun is optically at Infinity so you can create arrays of units without seeing multiple suns, the sun follows you seamlessly as you move around. It's hard to describe in a photo or video, but the result is that you have a strong impression of being outside when you are standing under it. - Virtual Sun requires 18 times less ceiling volume and weighs 18X less than Coelux - Virtual Sun can be dimmed and changes color, even cast moonlight at night

@jonathan_clark2 Neat. does the angle of the cast light change? e.g. like our actual skylights throughout the day? If it does it would be interesting to have it track the sun's azimuth based on your location. It would be interesting to pair with an exterior lux sensor to further match inside and outside conditions for greater realism.

@jonathan_clark2 Also curious if the enclosure is such that if you only had 5in of in-ceiling headroom if you could pseudo surface mount the device kind of like an interior "curb mount" with it extending 5 in into the ceiling and 5 in into the room

@jaredzimmerman 😁That is often the first question people ask. The angle of the sun doesn't change, it's always at 30 degrees. In some cases we have installed on a sloped wall or ceiling which would change the angle of the sun but that is a one-time thing. It would be cool if we could change it dynamically, that would involve a mechanical system that would add a lot to the cost. There are some advantages to keeping at 30 degrees. Once you start approaching 45 degrees you will have glare in your eyes as you walk around. We can control the sun and sky separately and use this to simulate how lighting conditions change when clouds pass overhead outside.

@jaredzimmerman We haven't tried that but have discussed it and think it would work fairly well - there are some real skylights that look like this. We have tried installing as a hanging fixture with no sides at all and once you are under it, it looks & feels like a real skylight with infinite depth - but when you step back and your brain realizes it's impossible you switch back to seeing it as a fixture - I think the box around it would allow your brain to keep accepting it as a portal to the outside. You'd need to build a little box along the edge where it extends into the room because the sides aren't designed to be visible with a finished look. I'd suggest making the "box" a little deeper into the room so you have a small recess before you see the sky. Another option to consider for low ceilings is to mount it at an angle between the wall and ceiling, like a soffit. We are doing that in a garage project and I think it's going to look really cool.

@zurgun Great question. yes, we are early days on medical testing but there are a range of physical problems this could help with. SAD, depression, claustrophobia, and dementia are big ones because they effect a large percentage of the population. For SAD, previous research suggest you need 2500 lux or more for a period of an hour per day (potentially lower if you have the right spectrum). Many people don't think about how light falls off exponentially from the source of the light - as a result you usually have to sit within 1-2 feet of a SAD lamp for them to work. Since our source is optically very far away, the lux drop off is slower by the time it exits the device - similar to how the brightness of the real sun on your roof is almost the same as the brightness of the sun on the ground. This allows us to provide enough lux from the ceiling to treat SAD where this wouldn't be possible with a normal fixture. In addition, normal SAD lamps create a lot of glare in the room making it uncomfortable for other people. Because the beam coming out of Virtual Sun diverges only 2 degrees, it won't shine directly into anyone's eyes and create glare - but you still get light into your eye when sitting under it from the bounce off your upper cheek, just like you would if you were sitting outside. Normal SAD lamps are way less expensive, but may not get used because of the issue of having to sit next to them for a long period of time and glare to other people. This could be something that's always there so you don't have to think about it.

@jonathan_clark2 mic drop explanation. Yes, SAD lights are a bore. Not user friendly. Virtual Sun sounds awesome!

@jaredzimmerman let's try it!

@rrhoover Yes! Sun is such an important part of human existence and it's hard to integrate into a lot buildings especially in dense urban areas or multi-story buildings. It's a great new tool for architects to make spaces feel amazing.