This is so incredibly strange, I had to post something. A couple who must have one of those weather ball thingies at home (they change color to indicate the forecast) have decided to “design” (nothing particularly new about the shape/size) a color-changing umbrella handle. It apparently uses wi-fi to pickup the forecast and thus if you’re somewhere near a friendly network I guess you have a chance of knowing whether the weather calls for an umbrella, from your umbrella.

I can imagine all sorts of fun sending fake rain signals to the neighborhood umbrellas. That would be funny, watching everyone leave the house saying “hmmm, it looks sunny, but this sophisticated umbrella weather center can’t be wrong”.

Anyone want to make a bet that security wasn’t included in the design?

The thing I really don’t understand is why the umbrella handle has to change color. Once the umbrella is out of range from the WAP, it’s just a regular handle, right? Moreover, you’ve already made the decision to carry the umbrella with you so it’s not like you would put the thing down when the handle calls for clear weather. On the other hand, I don’t think anyone needs a handle to tell them when rain is falling on them. A measure of UV-index perhaps could be useful, but rain? What’s next, wind? When the umbrella handle is gone, you’re in a hurricane.

Alright, I’m thinking about this way too much. I can’t even remember the last time I used an umbrella.