Video Link. This This cleverly-designed umbrella allows you shrink to fit the sidewalk.. (Thanks, Stephen Lenz)
Polite Umbrella Contracts To Avoid Poking Others In The Eye
Leave a comment
More items
Do you understand my first-grade child's homework?
My six-year-old told me she doesn't understand her homework. After studying it for 15 minutes, I *think* I understand what she's supposed to do, but I'd like a second opinion.... More.
MPAA shuts down entire town's muni WiFi over a single download
The MPAA has successfully shut down an entire town's municipal WiFi because a single user was found to be downloading a copyrighted movie. Rather than being embarrassed by this gross example of collective punishment (a practice outlawed in the Geneva conventions) against Coshocton, OH, the MPAA's sp... More.
To the anonymous gay teen who asked for help in a Boing Boing comment thread
[PHOTO: "Jessie," a CC-licensed image by LeTiger.] A few weeks ago, I blogged a funny video created by a Canadian high-school student titled "Hiding Your Sexual Orientation From Your Parents 101." One of the many people who commented on that post was an anonymous commenter who wrote: Ok, my pa... More.
Mugshot of Phil Spector Without His Spectacular Wig
I dare not publish the photo, for it is far too disturbing, but I will link to it. Previously:Phil Spector and his spectacular hair convicted of murder - Boing ... Phil Spector's spectacular hairdo - Boing Boing Somali Pirates Have a Livejournal - Boing Boing ... More.
Apple's big huge steaming pile of cash
"On December 27th, 1996, Apple had $1.8 billion in cash and securities. Today it has $34 billion." ... More.
RSS Feed
What about just lifting or lowering your umbrella is too taxing?
Pretty neat, but it looks kinda flimsy.
If they've ever tried it in actual rain?
How do YOU feel about being soaked by someone tilting his ordinary umbrella at you in heavy weather?
Greets
chrk
Looks too much like a vampire squid for me to use. Still pretty clever though.
Chindogu. And I wouldn't trust an umbrella to fulfill its contract to avoid poking people in the eye. Umbrellas love it too much, no matter how polite they may be.
I always figured umbrellas were the universe's way of letting short people get back at the tall folks who smack us in the face with their elbows/bags or walk into us, etc and never even notice, much less apologize. Was I wrong?
Not sure I would want to put that much thought into carrying an umbrella. Pull right string, pull left string, pull all strings. Almost video-game-ish.
Toolbag @4:
I understand all the words in the phrase "looks too much like a vampire squid" but I can't make the whole thing make sense. It's like something "tasting too much like chocolate" or "smelling too much like freash bread".
CNOOCY#8: I guess perhaps you're the type of person who wouldn't have a problem putting a vampire squid on the end of a stick and walk around while letting it periodically reach down and envelope your head.
Am I the only one who read 'contracts' as a noun (ie agreements) not as a verb (ie contracts as in reduces in size)?
Made little sense, but I thought it was going to be about unwritten agreements umbrella users should follow to avoid poking each other.
There are plenty of inventions like this that actually improve the product (even if this one might be more difficult to use). The question is: Can this be manufactured so that it is still reasonably priced compared to other umbrellas? If it costs $50 or more, and a very good umbrella without these features is $20 at most, it's not going to sell (and might not be made in the first place, after a manufacturer does this calculation).
I have plenty of ideas about how to improve parking lots, garages, and pedestrian walkways. They may actually be obvious to the designers/builders of those structures, I'm not sure. The problem is that since they would cost more to build with the more pedestrian-friendly features, they won't get made.
splendid, I shall utilize it for my steam-punk solar sail design onboard the Interstellar Brass Goose.
@jimbuck #10 - Exactly what I thought.
a small UV lamp in the interior apex and filaments of clear plastic dabbed with UV paint. They lower with the string pull and make an undulating, glowing fringe, creating street jellyfish for the nightscape.
Interesting idea in theory, but I read this prototype mostly as fail. It seems like it might be a royal pain in practical use.
In addition to what was mentioned above, like, getting wetter when its raining- When you fold your umbrella, are all those strings just dangling around inside and out waiting to get tangled up? Carrying something in your other hand, like a briefcase, shopping bag, or phone, seems problematic. I need to be able to do this while walking in the rain. Also, umbrellas with curved handles are handy for hanging.
If it's art, and commentary on polite society, great. If it's going on the market, I'd say keep working on it. Sorry to rain on the parade.
IT'S GOING TO EAT YOUR HEAD!!!!! OMFGAAAAAUGHRUNRUNRUN!!!
Cause people in a busy downtown area will be that considerate of others while trying to keep from getting wet.
Why doesn't this designer sell a street curb that will lift so pedestrians don't get wet by the inconsiderate splash cars cause?
It was a beach comber who developed this? What about a beach umbrella version of this for flirting, flipping off, & signaling passing editors?
OK, an automatic version: forward looking millimeter radar, nanomaterial actuator "muscles", on-board AI to assess obstacles and engage responses and a small trailer for power.
What about simply poking the other guy in the eye is too taxing?
:D
GMO a real Vampyroteuthis infernalis to be rigid enough for atmosphere. Anyone steals your umbrella, it eats their face.
#3 Just what I was thinking, you're either going to soak yourself or the person you have just had the courtesy to move your umbrella for. And couldn't you let go of the string suddenly and flick water at people like a dog shaking?
It's chindogu I tell ya, visual humor, not a product.
What I would like to know is, what goes through the mind of the people who don't budge an inch with their umbrellas. They must find it annoying to have their umbrella jerked by a collision, just like anyone else.
So are they thinking that it's up to other people to avoid collisions, not them? Are they mad at the rain and taking out on strangers? Do they keep forgetting that umbrellas take up more space than a head? Do they get irritated, as if they're the one who made an effort to be courteous and still got umbrella-whacked, even though they weren't?
I'm not being facetious. I'd really like to know how people who continuously startle and annoy other people in this way think about this. Is there anyone who will own up to being a habitually rude umbrella user, and give us an insight into that mindset? Maybe in your mind it's not rudeness on your part, but...well, you tell us.
then produce turtle umbrellas to counter the jellyfish umbrellas and turn the streets into a reef war.