Top High-Tech Umbrellas for Rainy Days

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.