Weather-Forecasting Umbrella

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 30 — Ambient Devices today
announced the Ambient Umbrella(TM), the world’s first umbrella that alerts
users when rain is expected.

    The Ambient Umbrella automatically receives weather data from
Accuweather.com via Ambient’s Infocast(TM) Network. Whenever precipitation
is expected in the next 12 hours, the Umbrella’s handle illuminates to
suggest “today is the day to take me with you.”

“The Ambient Umbrella perfectly demonstrates Ambient’s ability to embed
the intelligence of the Internet in everyday objects,” said Nicholas
Negroponte, member of Ambient Devices’ Board of Directors.
    “This product proves a point: it’s possible to make many types of
information as accessible and intuitive to use as time on a clock, without
needlessly repetitive website navigation or device complexity,” added David
Rose, CEO of Ambient Devices.
    The Ambient Umbrella’s handle illuminates when precipitation is
expected, to remind the user to carry the Umbrella. The Ambient Umbrella is
designed to stand upright by the door, near a coat rack or in an umbrella
stand – so it will be visible whenever the user goes outdoors. The handle’s
illumination behavior changes according to the forecast, for example the
handle shows soft, intermittent pulses for light rain, and very rapid,
intense patterns for thunderstorms.
    The Umbrella has a high quality “gust buster” dual canopy design and
requires very simple activation via the Ambient Devices customer service
phone line. The Ambient Umbrella will provide a year or more of battery
life with one “C” cell battery — exceptional performance for an electronic
product with “always on” behavior.
    Pricing and availability:
    The Ambient Forecasting Umbrella has a MSRP of $125 and is available
immediately through national retailers.
    About the Ambient Devices Infocast Network(TM)
    All Ambient-enabled products receive data over the Ambient Devices
Infocast Network(TM), a narrowband broadcast solution. The Network reaches
over 90% of U.S. households, with excellent in-building penetration in
areas inaccessible to other wireless technologies. The Ambient Infocast
Network provides very long battery life, which makes it the leading
embedded solution for real-time information products with always-on
behavior.
    Ambient Devices provides a variety of data feeds or “channels,” which
include local weather forecasts and traffic reports, stock market activity,
sports scores, accurate network time, and more.
    About Ambient Devices
    Ambient Devices brings Internet information to everyday products
without a PC or traditional Internet connection. The Company’s technologies
enable effortless access to information, such as current weather forecasts,
stock market activity, sports scores, and much more — with minimal user
configuration. Ambient Devices licenses its technologies to leading
consumer products companies and organizations, and develops and markets its
own solutions under the Ambient Devices brand.
    Ambient Devices was founded in 2001 to commercialize patent-pending
technologies pioneered at the MIT Media Lab. The company is headquartered
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is privately held. For more information,
please visit http://www.ambientdevices.com .

SOURCE Ambient Devices