Sydney: Being stuck in the rain may soon become the ‘in’ thing, thanks to Japanese boffins who have invented an umbrella that comes equipped with the Internet.
Developed at the Okude laboratory in Tokyo's Keio University, the high-tech umbrella comes with an integrated digital camera, built-in Wi-Fi and an attached projector.
The umbrella not only captures still images and video, but is also able to automatically upload them to Flickr and YouTube respectively.
Named "Pileus", the contraption can also project previously uploaded images above-head on the inside of the umbrella, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
As for how it works, well according to a website setup to promote "Pileus", the user must be within range of a wireless Internet hotspot, so that the contraption can capture the signal before he/she can access the photo-and-video-sharing websites.
By twisting the umbrella's grip, the users can then scroll through the Flickr photo sets and YouTube videos.
A Pileus prototype was first demonstrated earlier this year at UbiComp 2006, a computing conference held in California.
That particular design however, had cables from the built-in projector jutting out from the bottom, and the grip extending down to the user's knees.
Since then, the researchers have worked on miniaturising the umbrella's various components. The same technology that has been built into the umbrella is now no larger than a traditional low-tech model.
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