I really enjoy seeing projects that make a clever use of the natural ways in which people are used to products or their natural affordances.
This is definitely not one of these projects: the iBrella embeds iPod controls in the handle of an umbrella, making a person think about their music in such an impractical way. It’s raining outside, the very last thing i want is to think about water on a cable plugged into an iPod that is exposed to water first of all. Secondly, wildly shaking your umbrella in the air, somehow seems much less appealing an interaction than switching a button on, when wanting a random song to play. “- Are you ok sir? you’re shaking wildly! anything wrong? – Oh no it’s just my iPod…” ugh
Simple is difficult, yes i know, we can’t all be expected to come up with lovely, clever products, but we sure as hell should try!