Pileus: The Internet Umbrella

Pileus 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, and it provides two main functions; A Social Photo-sharing and A 3D Map Navigation.

The photo function is connected to a major web service "Flickr". 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.

Fig: Flickr photo stream on Pileus

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. The prototype uses Google Earth mash-up for the function. As it has a large screen, it create virtual reality but not immersive.

Fig: 3D map on Pileus

Now 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, social local-ads, 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.

PROTOTYPES

Fig: 3gen prototype (2007 - 2008) A light-weight short body w/ all functions. Flickr, Map application, 3D Accelerometer, GPS, Digital Compass, Mobile Projector, 3G HSDPA Connection

Fig: 2gen Prototype (2007) Clear long body. Map Application enabled. PHS wiress Internet connection. hardware: Black long body (Flickr only)

Fig: 1gen and Rapid ones

VIDEO

Vid: Experiments in Shibuya (

)

Vid: photo-scrolling (left) and map-scrolling (right)

"PILEUS"

"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 both metaphors of a physical umbrella (mushroom cap) and cyber network services (overlaid cloud).

Pileus meaning

Fig: origin of the name.

DESIGNERS

Takashi Matsumoto, Ph.D

Co-Founder, Pileus LLC

Takashi is an interaction designer of mobile gadgets. He is mainly directing the production and developing Pileus' hardware and media structure. He earned Ph.D. in Media and Governance (Media Design) in 2008 from Keio University. Previously he worked for FXPAL (Fuji Xerox Palo Alto Laboratory) internship in 2004 and PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) internship in 2007. He is one of MacSabers. See an interview by WMMNA to see his other works. Now he takes a roll of a publicity chair of TEI (Tangible and Embedded Interaction) '09 conference.

Sho Hashimoto

Co-Founder, Pileus LLC

Sho is a master's student of Keio University Okude Lab. He is mainly building an architecture of the system and developing Pileus' software and network. He is the most tech-geek in the university lab. His another work has been selected as IPA Mitoh Youth (未踏ユース). His software has been introduced at a major japanese news paper. See his blog to know his background. His web page: Shokai.org

Contact Us

This project has started as an academic research of Keio University Okude Lab in Spring 2006. Pileus LLC: a spin-off private company is continueing its operation now.
The umbrella is still a prototype. We are open for offers including the following. Please contact us for more detail.

Research & Development partnerships
Licenses of technology
Investments
Prototypes for demonstration

Pileus LLC (Pileus合同会社)

Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
VoIP: +81-50-5539-8199
Mail: info(at)pileus.net

ARCHIVES

Award and Prize

Prix de l'innovation at Laval Virtual: the Europe's largest VR festival.

"Prix de l'innovation"

Laval Virtual 2007

"The 2nd Prize of Demo Session"

Mobile HCI 2007 Demo

Academic Publications

Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds.

Wiley InterScience

Mobility Conference 2007

ACM ACE 2007 Poster

UbiComp 2006 Demo

Exhibitions

Campus Party 08 Valencia - Campus Futuro

Thank you for coming to see our work. Gracias.

Internet Eguna - Día De Internet

It was a great pleasure to see you in the festival! Eskerrik Asko!!!

Next No.5: Mindblowers

Thank you for visiting the event. Mamge tak!!

Enter 3: The Web 2.0 Generation

Academy of Sciences of The Czech Republic

Thank you for inviting coming to see the work. Děkuji!!!

SuperStore3 (Modefabriek)

Thank you for stopping by our work in the fashion fair. Dank u!!!

Breakthrough: An Amateur Photography Revolution

SFAC Gallery

Thank you so much for visiting the exhivition !!!!

Talks and Demonstrations

Talk and Demonstration for Google España, Campus Party, Valencia, Spain, July 28 2008

Demonstration at the IDC Steering Committee Annual Meeting, IDC Asia, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore. Jan. 23 2008.

Talk and Demonstration for FXPAL, FX Palo Alto Laboratory, Palo Alto, CA, July 25 2007.

Talk and Demonstration for Mobile Life project (Sweden), Keio Univ. Okude Lab., Fujisawa. May 7, 2007.

Demonstration at Keio SFC Open Research Forum 2006. Marunouchi, Tokyo. Nov. 22-23 2006.