'Genius' hack for using your laptop screen in the sun goes viral

While being able to get outside during the day is one of the best things about working from home, one slightly less enjoyable aspect of it is the glare from the sun.

Haven’t we all worked from a paddling pool from time to time? No? Just us?

Working outside is all well and good, but what if the sun is shining too brightly for you to be able to see your laptop? It’s a privileged problem to have, yes, and it’s one, one man has an answer to.

Tom Wood shared his cardboard box hack on LinkedIn, ensuring he’ll never have to squint to see his screen again.

His solution is simple. Find yourself a cardboard box around the same size as your laptop, turn it on its side and shove your laptop in there.

We can see why you might have your reservations about whether or not it would work, but looking at Wood’s prototype we can only conclude that this is a stroke of genius.

Let’s face it, we’ve all got enough boxes lying around from one too many online shopping orders right now. Why not put them to good use?

Wood said: “The latest in ‘Work From Home Technology’ When you are working from home and want to enjoy the sunshine, yet can't see your laptop screen because of the sun! Get yourself the latest Technological break through..... The Cardboard Box. I can top up my tan and work outside, without any issues.”

It wasn’t long before tens of thousands of people were sharing the status, clearly finding the hack useful.

One thing to note is that a good box needs ventilation holes.

One follower astutely asked how long it took for Woods’ laptop to overheat and turn off, to which he explained that the ventilation holes are essential.

It’s good to make sure the holes are poked in the bottom, too, since that’s where the fan is on most laptops.

“I’m embarrassed that I didn’t already come up with this myself,” one suitably impressed person wrote.

“Omg, genius. I have had this daily dilemma,” another added.

Words by Caroline Allen

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