Invisible Air Umbrella – Far Future or Close Reality?

INVISIBLE UMBRELLA

Every one of us is using umbrella almost every day. It is one of those things that you have to have at least one in your home. But did you know that the first design of umbrella is more than 3000 years old? Since then, nothing has really changed – metal sticks making sort of body holding everything together, and then at the top some form of fabric, or plastic keeping us dry from rain.

Now you might be thinking, that the only logical step for umbrella to have something new and completely different is to remove the body of the umbrella or the top, covering part.

Removing the body doesn’t really make any sense, because you have to hold it somehow, unless it would be attached to you. The next logical change might be – removing the top fabric part. That is exactly what is happening right now. Designers from Nanjing in China are currently working on invisible air umbrella. Principle of this air umbrella is, that the top part is missing, but it is replaced with air system, that blows out sideways and above you and so blows the rain out of your way. That may sounds bit crazy and out of this world. 

This is not the first time that such an innovation was introduced. The very first time that we heard about air umbrella was back in 2010, when Korean designer decided that it is the right time. However, this project was not successful. It is not easy task to make this project work, so team of designers, who are responsible for it now, made it public on Kickstarter so everyone can help and contribute and in own way be part of it. From the main goal $10.000 (7.900€) they have raised $4.000 (3.200€) with only 11 days left. One of the downsides of this air umbrella might be longevity of battery. It definitely isn’t built to make your long, romantic rain walks pleasure. With various models the longevity of battery also changes in between 15 – 30 minutes.

UMBRELLA

If they are successful, they said that retail prize for air umbrella will be somewhere between $128 – $148 (100€ – 120€), depends on model you would want to buy. Invisible air umbrella should be available in shops at the end of next year, in December 2015. Till then, we don’t have choice, just too stick with ordinary, visible umbrellas.

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