Unbreakable umbrella / intelligent plant pot

LinkedIn Gopher · Jun 6, 2010

Designs of the future: The unbreakable umbrella and the intelligent plant pot

Source: Daily Mail
Author: Claire Bates
Link to original article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1281525/The-unbreakable-umbrella-intelligent-plant-pot-designs-future.html

On a rainy and blustery day it is not unusual to get soaking wet when wrestling with a troublesome brolly.

Now one young British designer think he has come up with the solution to this problem.

The enterprising student from Brunel University has created the unbreakable 'Brolli', which he says will stay upright in the stormiest of weather.

The gadget opens inside-out and looks like an upside-down umbrella. It opens over the top of people's heads and the ribs flex with the wind, stopping it from being bent out of shape in a gale.

Simon Warne with his 'unbreakable' umbrella.

The design also means that the water is queezed out as it is drawn back into its carrying tube, so you won't be soaked carrying it.

Simon Warne, 27, said: 'I originally came up with the idea of Brollii when I was in Paris standing in front of the Musee d'Orsay in a long queue.

'It started to pour with rain and became very gutsy. I watched as people struggled to open their umbrellas while being squashed by the crowd and getting poked from flailing umbrella ribs.

'I thought to myself, surely with new technology and materials there must be a better solution!'

Another innovative design comes from Natalie King, who has developed a plant pot that tells gardeners if there is something wrong with their flowers.

The final year Industrial Design student has invented a two-part, electronic base and pot. The base is illuminated with a green light if all is well and turns red if it is too dry, hot or cold or if its too light or dark.

The 'Tulipe' also vibrates when picked up if it has a red light on.

Natalie King with her interactive plant pot. It turns from green to red if it is struggling in its environment

The 22-year-old designer said she was inspired by her grandfather who has an age-related sight condition.

'It was designed for people like him,' she said.

'It encourages the gardener to interact with their plant. When the base turns red, one doesn't know if the plant is thirsty, or too cold and you have to try out the options until it turns green.

'You get to know what the plant likes.'

Both the Brolli and the Tulipe will be on display with some other 250 designs at the annual Made in Brunel showcase run by graduating Brunel University design and engineering students.

The students hope the showcase with garner interest from manufacturers.

Paul Turnock, Director of Industrial Design and Product Design at Brunel University, said: 'The projects we've got on show this year are simply breathtaking, and it's the ideal opportunity for industry professionals to come and meet the new up-and-coming generation of innovative thinkers.'
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