It is raining again! In my way to class, the air turned the umbrella inside out and one stretcher broke because of it. As I walked to my second class my jeans were completely wet and the umbrella was no longer functional. I had to hold the stretcher that broke in order for me to “not get wet.” I put it under quotation marks, because innocently I thought I would not get soaking wet. At the end, I had to go buy a new and bigger umbrella. Thus, this blog is in honor to those dysfunctional umbrellas that were meant to protect us from getting wet from those raining days.
Then, who thought we needed umbrellas? How did the design thinking started? Why its design is the way it is? Well, according to the article The History of the Umbrella, written by Abby Eyers, the umbrella was invented 4,000 years ago. Its primary function was to provide shade and it was an item that only high-class society used and “the larger the umbrella, the greater the wealth of its owner.” As we moved through time different places around the world started to understand the problem society had with not sheltering themselves from the rain. People got sick more often. Thus, the function of the umbrella started to change; society gave it the purpose of protecting us from water.
The ideas and prototypes were taken from past centuries, so the only thing that was need to be done was to find a permeable material and the strength of a material that would be able to fold and “hold” the umbrella in that inverted u-shape. But, it was not easy for people to adapt to this new protecting device. Man at first did not agree with the idea of using what was meant for only women use.
On the other hand, the umbrella’s design needs to change because it does not provide enough protection. And the stretchers need to be stronger so the wind does not turn it inside out. But, I’m sure someone will change the prototype and we will find the perfect protection against rain. Like this one:
**The information and the picture were taken from this website: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/26690/the_history_of_the_umbrella_pg2.html?cat=46**
** The video was borrowed from youtube.com**
**The information and the picture were taken from this website: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/26690/the_history_of_the_umbrella_pg2.html?cat=46**
** The video was borrowed from youtube.com**
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