Check this out. In a recent article on ThinkGeek.com, the product called the Ambient Orb is explained. According to the article, the Ambient Orb is:
a device that slowly transitions between thousands of colors to show changes in the weather, the health of your stock portfolio, or if your boss or friend is on instant messenger. It is a simple wireless object that unobtrusively presents information. Imagine if you had to go to your computer and type in your zip code whenever you wanted to check what time it was. Your important information should be as accessible as looking at a clock, now the Ambient Orb can make a variety of information just a glance away.
Take for example the Stock Market. The orb will glow green if stocks are going up and red if stocks are going down. The orb will also pulsate if there is a major change as well. In addition to monitoring the stock market, the orb can monitor many other things such as the weather, website traffic, pollen count, friends on IM, and the available space on your hard drive. The Orb is completely independent and operates uses a national wireless internet connection. Here are some of the specs:
- LED lighting that can produce thousands of color combinations- Orb can also produce color pulses
- The Orb is made of glass
- Pre-configured to monitor the Dow - can be reconfigured online or through an 800 number- Premium content available for about $1/week
- Does not require a computer, phone or internet connection- Three brightness level settings
- Includes power supply, power cord, and glass Orb
- Can monitor: Stock market, weather, pollen count, IM buddies, or custom data
- One-year manufaturer warranty
The Ambient Orb looks pretty cool and would be an interesting item to have in an office or dorm room. The orb is a great idea and very creative.