Devices give weather at-a-glance

A variety of new and novel devices are changing the way consumers get their weather -- including such techno items as a weather-forecasting umbrella. The fusion of various objects and technology has sparked much consumer interest by providing the simplest of practical convergent devices.

The Cambridge, Mass.-based company Ambient Devices Inc. is a leading maker of "glanceable" forecasting devices using wireless technology and is winning over praise since its start in the fall of 2001. The company aims not to crowd consumers with a number of features but rather produce objects that are so-called polite technology.

"Ambient devices are a new category of devices, I call them 'calm computing' -- you don't interact with it like a cell phone," said Ambient President David Rose. "These devices allow you to do one thing at a time; it's really pleasant, polite than other electronic devices that require a lot of attention. You'll never be bugged by your orb."

All of Ambient's devices use a wireless solution, the Ambient Information Network and the Ambient Device Design, which creates an infrastructure of back-end service delivery and wireless network and a set of hardware specifications to turn everyday objects into glanceable information devices.

The company, aside from its products, also licenses this technology out to other companies aimed with the same goal such as GPS systems for cars allowing for individuals to know traffic congestion, or LG refrigerators with weather forecasts.

But their latest anticipated device is the "Forecasting Umbrella" set to debut in summer 2006 and the "E Ink Weather Wizard" this fall.

The Forecasting Umbrella uses proprietary data-radio in the handle, which receives accuweather.com information and pulses when rain is forecast.

Battery-operated, its handle also glows to remind a forgetful individual to take the umbrella with them.

Meanwhile, the E Ink Weather Wizard is a thin display mounted to the wall, refrigerator or used as a bedside clock, and shows the "Atomic time" with current conditions and the five-day forecast, according to the company.

Using batteries, it too connects to accuweather.com, updating the forecasts every hour, using weather icons and giving temperature expectations.

"People have had an anticipatory attitude (for the new devices)," Rose said. "People really want more information about their weather. It's about putting the information exactly in the right place, in a golf bag for golfing conditions or a surfboard that knows waves."

But this is just two of many products however, which includes the 5-Day Weather Forecaster, Executive Dashboard, Weather Beacon and the Ambient Orb.

In particular, the Executive Dashboard, the Weather Beacon and Ambient Orb offer more than just weather forecasts but give individuals the ability to track any dynamic Internet-based information whether it is stocks or energy prices.

And the last two changes color depending on the information on the Ambient channels ranging from S&P 500, NASDAQ Composite, pollen count, traffic congestions, presidential approval and even gardening, golfing or sailing conditions.

In particular, the weather colors correspond with the standard color-spectrum used on weather maps used by the Weather Channel among others the paging networks.

"Consumer attitudes to convergent devices are dreadful," he said. "The average person is not using their phone for sports scores or watching videos, instead we're looking for devices that don't complicate our lives."

He added, "People would rather have 100 devices that do one thing good, than a cell phone that does 100 things."

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

Related stories:

Sensor could detect concealed weapons without x-rays
A new sensor being patented by Ohio State University could be used to detect concealed weapons or help pilots see better through rain and fog.
Unlike X-ray machines or radar instruments, the sensor doesn't have to generate a signal to detect objects – it spots them based on how brightly they reflect the natural radiation that is all around us every day.
NIST assists in solar stake-out to improve space weather forecasts
The sun is about to undergo unremitting scrutiny. About six times each minute of every hour for at least five years, a soon-to-be launched NASA satellite will measure the sun's quirky—and sometimes stormy—output of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light. To ensure that this solar stake-out yields data useful for understanding the weather in space and its earthly consequences, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology are helping a NASA team prepare for annual rocket-borne check-ups of key instruments aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).
Computer Science Professor’s Breakthrough Maps the Cool Quest
Like a Doppler weather map with red blotches tracking the paths of major storms, a new tracking software service co-developed by Columbia University computer science professor Tony Jebara instantly shows people where the hottest clubs or hangouts are, in real time.
Transforming buses into mobile sensing platforms
Public buses could be transformed into mobile sensing platforms, sending out information for traffic management, road safety and even hazard alerts thanks to the work of European researchers.
Study says Chinese air quality standards not yet met
With the Olympic Games in sight, the Chinese Government is committed to improving the air quality in Beijing, and has had measures in place since 1998 which have already made a difference. However, there is still some way to go to meet national air quality standards in the Chinese capital, according to Professor Wang Wen-Xing and his team from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences in Beijing, in the People's Republic of China.
UM gets only US lab for WiMAX next generation wireless apps
The University of Maryland will be the home to North America's first, and the world's second, laboratory endorsed by the WiMAX Forum and dedicated to creating applications for WiMAX, a next generation technology for Web and other wireless communications. The university and the WiMAX Forum announced the formation of Maryland's new MAXWell Lab today.
IBM researchers unveil green optical network technology prototype
IBM researchers today unveiled the fastest and most highly integrated optical data bus ever developed. The prototype technology could bring massive amounts of bandwidth in an energy-efficient way to all kinds of machines—from cell phones to supercomputers. This could revolutionize the way we access, use and share information across many different applications.
NASA to Fly Viking Into Storms to Improve Aviation Safety
The S-3B Viking was built to take off and land on carrier ships, fly into enemy territory and take out threatening submarines. It's rugged, fast and powerful, but its fighting days are numbered.

News discussion:

Electronic Devices news