Hi Redwingii:
Did you progress any with your scanning aid distance piece?
I see that CP are looking at making one also.
I have tried some photographic black-out cloth, it does work shielding the scan from bright sunlight, but is a bit fiddly as it likes to curl up. Then you need four hands! One for SCiO, one for smartphone, one for sample, and one for the shield.
I am sure that there are enough clever engineers amongst us to create a solution.
Roger