Watch slide-shows on the umbrella which will stop you getting lost By CLAIRE BATES - More by this author ยป Last updated at 13:01pm on 15th May 2007 <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_article_id=454961&in_page_id=1965> Comments Comments (2) Rainy days will never seem as dull again thanks to a new internet umbrella.
The high-tech brolly allows you to take pictures with a built-in camera. These can be uploaded to Flickr (a photo-sharing website) via a wireless internet connection and within two minutes you can watch downloaded photo-streams on your umbrella screen with a simple wrist-snapping movement. Invented in Tokyo (where else?) the Pileus umbrella also has GPS and a digital compass, which uses Google Earth to help you navigate yourself around the world. They are working on incorparating a video camera as well. The project started out as academic research at Keio University in Spring 2006, but now Pileus LLC is keen to make it a money-spinning venture. No word yet on how much the umbrella would cost, but it is likely to be very expensive. Just don't leave it on the tube. See the umbrella in action... <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvH51D3KJT4>