Company Announcement - Here's a thing we thought sun-drenched South Africa never needed: artificial sunlight delivered via streaming Internet. Local video-on-demand service VIDI and the University of Marbella in equally sunny Spain have collaborated on cutting-edge optical technology that enables VIDI viewers to access programming of the sun to illuminate their homes in the event of blackouts.

The GeoRadiance Artificial Power technology streams sunlight to VIDI viewers' hardware devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones via the web.

"The rays are delivered via compressed packets of data which ensures there is no effect on battery life," says Taryn Uhlmann, VIDI's Head of Marketing. "When these packets of optical data, which are essentially scaled-down versions of the sun's rays, come into contact with electrons trapped within device screens, their effect is magnified into what is basically daylight. "While VIDI's sun programming is not strong enough to provide a suntan, it will help you find your car keys," says Uhlmann. She added that research by the University of Marbella indicated that VIDI's sun programming was sufficient to illuminate a typical 150 square metre home.
Unlike traditional television, VIDI programming is not scheduled and can be viewed at any time. This means viewers can access the sun channel whenever one of Africa's most advanced economies is plunged into darkness thanks to Africa's most inept power utility.

VIDI requires no specialised hardware and all programming, including the sun content, is offered on a subscription or pay-per-view basis. VIDI takes traditional television's 'one-size-fits-all' approach and completely replaces it with an experience that places the viewer at the centre of customised entertainment. VIDI plans to launch its sun programming in the United Kingdom next year where it is expected to help reduce the incidence of rickets in that nation.