Week 4: Pileus

PILEUS: The Internet Umbrella

By Sho Hashimoto and Takashi Matsumo

The photo function is connected to a major web service: Flickr API. A user can take photo with a camera on the umbrella, and pictures are uploaded to Flickr in two minutes with context tags via a wireless Internet connection. User can also enjoy theirselves watching photo-streams downloaded from Flickr with simple operation of wrist snapping.

  

It also has a function of 3D Map. 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. It aims to create natural augmented reality with a large informatin screen on the umbrella. Pileus is an umbrella connected to the internet to make walking in rainy days fun. Pileus has a large screen on the top surface, a built in camera, a motion sensor, GPS, and a digital compass. The current prototype has two main functions: photo-sharing and 3D map navigation.

 

These two functions can be switched by simply fliping a switch. As a future direction of its development, putting a context data on the Internet (e.g. geo-tags on photos), it will be able to provide social local-navigations and real-time in-place communications. The product aims to provide an augmentation of everyday life synchronizing information on the Internet and the real place. 

It is interesting to browse the 'future' while in the rain however in my opinion the user might bump into people while walking and it is not safe or feasible even to use the umbrella especially under rain.

reference:
http://www.pileus.net/
http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,3253,l=204409&a=204399&po=4,00.asp