Sales of the Himawari in North America have been slow, although there are quite a few units installed in Japan. Once the system is installed, it costs nothing to operate. However, the lack of a viable payback period slows sales. The Himawari is attractive for installations where initial cost is much less of an issue than operating costs, or where special decorative effects are needed. Some researchers are looking at decoupling the view and the lighting function of windows, according to Barbara Erwine of the Seattle Lighting Design Lab.
Views tend to be oriented downwards and horizontally, whereas daylight comes from above.
Glazing systems could preserve the view while improving daylighting performance. Nippon Sheet Glass is working on a product that appears clear or diffuse, depending on the angle of view. Angle 21 is a laminated film with chemically induced slits that can be preset for a variety of angles. Angle 21 is targeted at the privacy market, but it could be used to maintain view and diffuse sunlight entering from above the horizontal. Currently, light from core daylighting systems is usually directed into a space by large diffusers that descend below the ceiling plane.