The autumn rain has finally arrived in the UK, and with that comes a rise in the number of people wandering the streets with umbrellas.
Umbrellas are fine in theory, but still have problems with being blown inside-out with a stiff breeze and people hold them at a height just perfect for poking out your eyes as you walk past.
A Chinese company is looking to make both of these issues a thing of the past with the “Air Umbrella” that blows a “force-field” of air around the holder to keep the rain away, and also has the added benefit of allowing the user to see where they’re going.
If this all sounds too good to be true, that would be because it is. Strong blasts of air will keep the rain off you, but you can be sure of those around you kicking up a fuss as the water is blown directly into their faces instead, but more problematically – the battery only lasts for 15-30 minutes depending on the size of Air Umbrela you buy. If you’re caught in a rainstorm, you better not be planning on walking far.
The Air Umbrella has already met its $10,000 Kickstarter goal, but buyers can still pre-order one for $108 from their page (which includes a really terrible promo video) if they are so inclined for the next 10 days.