14 DAY TRIAL // The folks at Studio Toer have come up with one really cool way to make sure you don't get sunburns should you happen to live in a region that gets loads of sunshine on a regular basis.
Long story short, they have created a parasol that has a mind of its own, and which either self-inflates or self-deflates depending on environmental conditions.
The parasol, featured in the video below, is dubbed Cumulus. This is because, when inflated, it looks very much like a cloud measuring roughly 2 meters (approximately 6.5 feet) in diameter.
Inhabitat details that the Cumulus parasol's surface is made of nylon, and that it also has a silicone coating that makes it waterproof. Its makers say that, although its cloud-like shape might make it appear fairly vulnerable, it is actually durable and strong.
What's interesting is that, in order to self-inflate, the parasol does not rely on Harry Potter-like magic. On the contrary, its body expands thanks to a fan that is powered by solar cells. The Cumulus activates automatically when hit by sunlight, and deflates when the sun is out of sight.
According to the people at Studio Toer, the parasol is also fitted with an additional switch that is integrated into its pole, and which makes is possible to turn it off on demand. Check out the video below to see the Cumulus at work, and share your thoughts on it in the comments section.
