1. Light Saber Umbrella
As many of you know, Star Wars is commemorating its 30th-anniversary by releasing Star Wars stamps through the USPS. If that's not enough, you can add the Light Saber Umbrella
to your sci-fi collection. From FunShop.co.kr, this nylon umbrella is
40-inches across and features a telescoping action. And, of course, it
lights up to look like a real lightsaber. Star Wars fans can get this limited-edition umbrella for $99.99 from EntertainmentEarth.com
2. NanoNuno Umbrella
We're not quite certain an umbrella that doesn't get
wet in the rain could be real, but according to UK-based Pro-Idee, it
is. The NanoNuno Umbrella
uses nanotechnology to "roll off" moisture from the polyester fabric, a
process that took many years to develop. When open, the umbrella
measures 38-inches in diameter and sports a high-quality wooden handle.
Give it a shake and see if it dries for you for £49.95 ($98 USD).
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3. Ambient Forecasting Umbrella
It's a typical situation: you leave your house for
work without an umbrella, and then it begins to rain unexpectedly. With
the Ambient Forecasting Umbrella,
take the guessing out of your daily routine. The Forecasting Umbrella
works by tuning in to AccuWeather.com to predict the weather in your
area. If there's a 100-percent chance for rain, the light in the handle
will pulse 100 times per minute to warn you that you'll need your
umbrella. And if the chance for rain is slightly lower, the light will
pulse once per second. The umbrella operates on one AAA battery, and is
still in development.
4. Pileus: The Internet Umbrella
What if you could snap a photo or shoot video using
just your umbrella? That's what Sho Hashimoto, Shingo Iwata, and Takashi
Matsumoto are developing with Pileus: The Internet Umbrella.
The Pileus system is described as a "mobile tangible browser to make
rainy days fun." The umbrella is Wi-Fi-enabled with a built-in camera. A
Pileus user can take a picture or video using the umbrella, and the
media is uploaded to Flickr or YouTube. Then, the user can twist the
handlebar, which contains an RFID reader, to scroll through the content
on each site. The media content is projected onto the umbrella's
underside. The team also hopes to integrate GPS sensors into the
umbrella to be used as a navigational system.
