By Andrew Liszewski
Unless you’re a farmer, meteorologist or umbrella salesperson, I can’t imagine you’re too thrilled when it’s raining outside. But apparently that’s not the case in Japan, where students at Osaka University’s Human Interface Lab have developed the Funbrella which can simulate the feeling of rain, even when the sun is shining.
Using a mechanism not unlike a regular old speaker, the Funbrella can be fed a signal and will reproduce vibrations that feel like raindrops are actually hitting the top surface of the umbrella. The mechanism also works the other way, recording the vibrations created by real raindrops, so the effect can be recreated later. This video goes into a bit more depth about how it works, but you’ll probably want to skip ahead to the 1:40 mark, lest you end up even more confused about the concept.
[ Akihabara News – FunBrella Brings You Virtual Rain Anytime, Anywhere ]
Japan will never cease to amaze me.
Slow news day huh.
What will those wacky Japanese think of next?
Okay the video started out pretty weird, and I have to admit I got confused fast. I get the fact that they are trying to add something to the umbrella, since it's been unchanged for a while now. I think the linked system to another is kind of cute, so you could feel the rain your poor boyfriend is going through, but why would I have mine open if it isn't raining? oh, well at least they are trying.
Slow news day huh.
What will those wacky Japanese think of next?
Okay the video started out pretty weird, and I have to admit I got confused fast. I get the fact that they are trying to add something to the umbrella, since it's been unchanged for a while now. I think the linked system to another is kind of cute, so you could feel the rain your poor boyfriend is going through, but why would I have mine open if it isn't raining? oh, well at least they are trying.