American businessman Bert Lance once said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Well, Lance wasn't in the umbrella business, and unfortunately the umbrella is in dire need of some technological advancements.
[seealso slug="halo-belt"]
If you've ever had the displeasure of using one of these outdated weather accessories to stay dry, you can probably relate. You may have even found yourself kicking and screaming in the middle of the street during the pouring rain, frustrated with the umbrella for its inability to do its job.
Credit: monn222
It's 2014, people! That means it's time for the umbrella to get a serious upgrade. Fortunately, these umbrella pioneers are out there, paving the path to a smarter, more efficient and reliable umbrella.