Internet Umbrella Prototype

Keio University doctoral student Takashi Matsumoto displays the prototype model of the image or net browsing umbrella "Pileus" to make rainy days fun, at the university's advanced technology exhibition in Tokyo,Japan. The web images are downloaded from the Internet and projected from a mobile projector mounted on the grip of the umbrella.


The Pileus Internet Umbrella has a large screen on the top surface, a built-in camera, a motion sensor, GPS, and a digital compass, and it provides two main functions : a Photo-Sharing and a 3D Map Navigation.

The photo function is connected to "Flickr". A user can take photo with a camera on the umbrella, and pictures are uploaded to Flickr via a wireless Internet connection. User can also enjoy theirselves watching photo-streams downloaded from Flickr (and video-stream from YouTube on an advanced proto) with simple operation of wrist snapping.

3D Map Navigation is powered by "Google Earth". Detecting a location data from GPS, it shows a 3D bird view around the user. User can walk-through a city comparing the 3D views and real sights, and the map is always updated by GPS and a digital compass. As it has a large screen, it create virtual reality but not immersive.

The Pileus Internet Umbrella has been making its rounds for approximately one year already, but until now there is no official word on whether it will be made on a commercial scale or not. A Pileus Internet Umbrella Prototype was first demonstrated in 2006 at UbiComp, a computing conference held in California.

It might not be the most expensive umbrella in the world when released,but it will definitely be the most technologically packed version.

http://techdigest.tv/2007/06/pileus_internet.html