Wi-Fi Umbrella
This is pretty much the most insane umbrella I have ever seen. And by “insane” I naturally mean “yes, I would love to try it out”.
One of the most annoying things to have happen on vacation is a downpour of rain. When I went to see the Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza, it was the one and only day that it poured rain. It was still beautiful but it was difficult trying to get pictures while also keeping the camera safe and dry.
The Pileus umbrella, invented in Tokyo, can make it a little easier for you. It has a built-in camera that will allow you to take photos from underneath the umbrella, and then its Wi-Fi connection will let you transfer the pictures to your Flickr account. After that, if you’re stuck waiting for a bus in the rain, you can look at your photostream right on the umbrella’s screen.
It also has a GPS system and digital compass, and they hope to include a video camera soon.
CRAZY!
My only worry would be how often you would walk into people, posts, the street because you’re busy looking up, but still. I would totally try it out.
I only wish I knew what quality the camera is. Alas, no word on pricing. Maybe they’ll send me one pro bono to test it out?
Edited to add - Here’s a set on Flickr that shows some more. The image quality isn’t great, more like early cellphone cameras, but still! A camera built into a Wi-Fi umbrella?! Woo!
(Photo from The Sharper Edge)
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POSTED IN: Gadgets, Just for fun
4 opinions for Wi-Fi Umbrella
The Humble Umbrella Goes High Tech: WiFi, Built-In Camera, Espresso Maker
Apr 21, 2008 at 11:47 am
[...] Poppins would have been more than impressed. A new high tech umbrella that allows you to take pictures with an built-in digital camera as you’re sauntering along, [...]
Suz
Apr 21, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I would definately be so distracted I would walk into things. I mean, as it is, I’m usually so distracted by the interesting patterns the rain makes on my umbrella underside that I walk into things. I can’t imagine having that multiplies a hundered times with WiFI.
Christen
Apr 21, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Make people less lazy about carrying umbrellas by packing them with features, ingenious:)
I’m hoping to never use my new obsession « Girls Gotta Travel
Apr 29, 2008 at 8:47 pm
[...] or read more about it on the TrustyPony site right here. I’m also kind of fascinated with this Wi-Fi umbrella that I first saw on The Geeky [...]
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