I’ve been a fan of Ambient Devices for a while – I’ve got an Ambient Orb on my desk that turns different colors based on the temperature outside. This morning – after a smelly run on Sunset in LA to the parallel universe that is Beverly Hills and back to the hotel – I noticed that Ambient had just released the Ambient Umbrella.
I love it. I know of a bunch of different companies that are working on integrating the Internet with a wide variety of every day products. Some of the applications are simple while some are complex – many of them will radically change the way we interact with our “computers.” And the really smart ones will make the underlying platforms available to anyone. Remember – It’s the API, Stupid.
Posted in: HCICOMMENTS (7)
Oh this is VERY cool! Where can I get one?
Very cool. I'd love an ambient remote linked in with a Tivo API. Green= turn it on, Red= don't bother.
Thanks Brad. You just helped take care of my Christmas shopping for this year!
I have to admit that it's a bit disconcerting to just finish reading, "integrating the Internet with a wide variety of every day products" and then see a Viagra ad at the bottom of your post. Invariably my next thought is internet connected medications that alert doctors whether or not you're compliant. (Ah, this would be such a good thing for my bi-polar friends who like to stop taking their meds when they're on a feel-good manic upswing, but it's an utterly unnerving thought for privacy concerns none-the-less.)
, August 5, 2007 5:26 AM
My favorite one of those was from back during the bubble, but I still liked it: The Internet Toaster.
Put in the bread and it would come out with the forecast in an image on the toast.
This is the sort of thing MS should be doing with SPOT / MSN Direct rather than oversized phones and traffic aware coffee makers ;)
The Ambient Umbrella is available from Hammacher. Soon others...
http://www.hammacher.com/publish/74187.asp?promo=QSearch
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