An air-powered umbrella has whizzed past its Kickstarter target of $10,000 and looks set to be in (dry) customer hands by next year’s holiday season.
The tech’d up umbrella – tantamount to a stick that blows wind – currently has just over $16,000 (£10,000) in backing with 9 days to go.
So how does it work? The rain-rerouter’s kickstart begins in a suitably zen fashion, reminding us lay-folk that ‘air is everywhere on the earth.’
“The flowing air can change the moving path of the object. The faster the air moves, the greater the energy is,” imparts team Air Umbrella wisely.
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Voilà – you’ve got yourself the ultimate drizzle-dodging device.
At the top end of the device is a motor which sets about pushing air outwards to shove off showers tout de suite.
The mid-section is a lithium-ion battery which promises to keep you moisture-free for a solid 30 minutes.
Finally, the controller and master switch are built into the bottom of the device, meaning your hands will stay as desert-dry as the Sahara that is your noggin.
Manufacturing is expected to be completed by September 2015, with the Air Umbrella team promising that the shower-shunning stick will ship out before Christmas next year – just in time for winter downpours.
The team also says it’ll return all backing to supporters should the Air Umbrella not make it through customer letterboxes by December 31 2015.
A single Air Umbrella will set you back $118, which equates to roughly £74 sterling. Funny looks on your morning stroll to work may or may not be included.
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Read more: Best tech Kickstarter projects
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
