This innovative project is further proof that art and technology are two sides of the same coin. Is an iPod controlling umbrella a post-modern performance piece or a superp mp3 player hack? Clearly it is both.
This hack appears to use accelerometers to detect the motion of the umbrella. As the user turns, jumps or opens the umbrella the iPod is sent signals to activate the appropriate function.
“The iBrella is a special umbrella that acts as an iPod interface. One can control the iPod just by his physical interactions with the iBrella.
“Actually, you can ‘emulate’ all iPod commands solely by physical interactions with the iBrella e.g. opening and closing the iBrella refers to starting and pausing the iPod. Furthermore, you can select a random song by wildly shaking the iBrella in the air. Mode switching for different control modes is done by simply ’stabbing’ the iBrella in the air.”
This bulky, awkward looking device is in fact a very complicated machine that exists solely for the purpose of drawing text and pictures on the surface of water using waves. The Advanced Multiple Organized Experimental Basin, or AMOEBA, is about the size of a kiddie pool and can generate one character on the water every 3 seconds.
“Akishima Laboratories expects the technology to be incorporated into amusement devices that combine acoustics, lighting and fountain technology, which they hope to see installed at theme parks and hotels.”
Until I found the above quote I couldn’t tell if this was going to be cool and awesome, or cool and useless. I’m glad that classification has already been determined.
I’ve been doing some work around here lately. I’ve been meaning to give Zerosign a new feel for a long time, but today I finally got the nerve to push the changes out on the new layout. I’m sure there will be some bugs to fix around here, but for now I think I’m almost happy with the way it turned out. Who knows though, tomorrow it may look totally different.
