Pileus is an umbrella which lets you capture, display and upload images to FlickR and YouTube. It comes equipped with a digital camera, WiFi, RFID reader and projector (for projecting images on sidewalk puddles). Twist the umbrella grip to navigate. It is also a mobile web browser.
To use Pileus, you need to near a hotspot but it doesn’t have to be raining—-though you may look a bit goofy with an open umbrella on a sunny day. On second thought, use it during sunny weather to avoid the harmful UV rays and keep that blogoholic pallor while you’re outdoors.
Pileus was developed by scientists of Keio University’s Okude Lab in Japan. The prototype was shown at UbiComp in California earlier this year. Pileus, a term used to describe capped clouds, may not float in Southern Calfornia but may be a big hit in London and Seattle. The curved image on an umbrella doesn’t seem appealing but at least you’ll get that cute girl to share your umbrella in the rain.
H/T: Crunch Gear via SawfNews.
Additional Sources: keo (cache)
Here’s a look at the bulky protype shown at UbiComp 2006.
