How many times have you seen an infomercial for a product that seemed so practical, so innovative that you found yourself asking (out loud): “Why didn’t I think of that?”
I had one of those moments when I heard about the newest umbrella headed to a store near you. It’s called the Ambient Umbrella, and it’s being billed as the world’s first umbrella that alerts users when rain is expected.
Hold on! It’s a bit more advanced than that. According to its designer, the Ambient Umbrella automatically receives weather data from a national weather service and when precipitation is expected in the next 12 hours, the umbrella’s handle lights up to suggest “today is the day to take me with you.”
Designers say the Ambient Umbrella illustrates how the intelligence of the Internet can be imbedded in everyday objects. What’s more, according to the manufacturer, the umbrella will operate for an entire year on one “C” cell battery—and that’s when it is on all the time.
The battery helps power the light in the handle, which illuminates when precipitation is expected, to remind you to take the umbrella with you. The Ambient Umbrella is designed to stand upright by a door, near a coat rack or in an umbrella stand – any place where the handle will be visible. The handle’s illumination differs according to the forecast, for example the handle shows intermittent pulses for light rain, and blinks very rapidly to warn of impending thunderstorms.
Another innovation that caught my attention deals with the frustration many of us experience at the hands of our cellphones. Dropped calls, no service areas, bad reception… sound familiar? Have you ever gotten to the point where you simply wanted to throw your cellphone as far as possible?
You wouldn’t be the only one. In fact, you aren’t the only one. Cell phone owners who have reached their limit with dealing with spotty service got the chance to work out their frustrations at the GoldenPalace.com phone throwing Championships.
The event (yes, it’s an authentic event) was held recently in London. For a small fee, participants were given three cellphones to toss as far as they could. The winner of this year’s event was an English guy who was able to hurl his cellphone an impressive 312 feet. His toss broke the existing record of 311 feet.
How far do you think you could whip your cellphone?
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