PILEUS: The Internet Umbrella

Pileus is an umbrella connected to the Internet to make walking in rainy days fun. Pileus has a large screen on the top surface, a built-in camera, a motion sensor, GPS, and a digital compass. The current prototype has two main functions: photo-sharing and 3D map navigation.



The photo function is connected to a major web service: Flickr API. A user can take photo with a camera on the umbrella, and pictures are uploaded to Flickr in two minutes with context tags via a wireless Internet connection. User can also enjoy theirselves watching photo-streams downloaded from Flickr with simple operation of wrist snapping.







It also has a function of 3D Map. Detecting a location data from GPS, it shows a 3D bird view around the user. User can walk-through a city comparing the 3D views and real sights, and the map is always updated by GPS and a digital compass. It aims to create natural augmented reality with a large informatin screen on the umbrella.







These two functions can be switched by simply fliping a switch. As a future direction of its development, putting a context data on the Internet (e.g. geo-tags on photos), it will be able to provide social local-navigations and real-time in-place communications. The product aims to provide an augmentation of everyday life synchronizing information on the Internet and the real place.



Video in TOKYO









SCENARIO



Scenario (2006)





PROTOTYPES

3rd Gen Prototype





A light-weight short body w/ Flickr, 3D Map with 3D Accelerometer, GPS, Digital Compass, Mobile Projector, and Wi-Fi / HSDPA Connection



2nd Gen Prototypes



Long body w/ Flickr + 3D Map with GPS, Digital Compass and PHS connection



1st Gen Prototypes



Long body w/ Flickr with 3D Accelerometer



Early Prototypes:

prototypes at an early design process

DO YOU LIKE IT?

DESIGN TEAM









Takashi Matsumoto (Pileus, Co-Designer) - Right

(Pileus, Co-Designer) - Right

Takashi Matsumoto is a media design conceptor. The Pileus project was started when he was a Ph.D. student. He was mainly directing its production and developing Pileus' hardware and media structure. His special field is a design of Social Interaction bridging tangible objects, real-world experiences, and network services. He has been designing unique digital gadgets to give new experiences in urban life with tangible operations of information.



He earned his Ph.D. in Media and Governance from Keio University SFC Media Design Program in 2008. He earned his master's degree in Media and Governance and BA in Environmental Information from Keio University with summa cum laude. Previously he has worked for Senior Research Fellow for NUS (National University of SIngapore) School of Computing and internships at PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) and FXPAL (FX Palo Alto Laboratory). More information on www.takashimatsumoto.com and on an interview by we-make-money-not-art.com.



Sho Hashimoto (Pileus, Co-Designer) - Left

Sho Hashimoto is a media design engineer. The Pileus project was started when he was a senior student at Okude Lab. He has been mainly building an architecture of the system and developing Pileus' software and network.



When he was a student at Keio University SFC, he was one of the most tech-geek in the campus. His another work "Teleshadow" has been selected for IPA Mitoh Youth, which is a highly-talented project selected by a Japanese governmental agency. He has also led another IPA Mitoh project. He has developed several software applications which have been introduced at a major Japanese news paper.



Pileus Project info(at)pileus.net



The design process of Pileus started from concept creations of an ethnographical approach. The concept was drawn on a scenario to enhance our urban experiences with the interactive umbrella.The design is gradually updated by a lot of prototype experiments.We thank your supports!"Pileus" is an ancient Latin word originally meaning skullcap, and now used as technical worlds for a cloud that appear above a cumulus at meteorology [1] and a cap of mushrooms at mycology [2] . The project uses this word for the name with double metaphors as a physical umbrella (mushroom cap) and cyber network services (overlaid cloud).This project was started as a academic research of Media Design at Keio University SFC Okude Lab in Spring 2006. The umbrella is a only prototype currently. We are open for offers and inquiries to the project. Please feel free to contact us for more information.