Cool Thing of the Month
The Ambient Orb
The Ambient Orb is an intriguing frosted glass sphere linked
to a wireless network that subtly shifts among thousands of
colors to display real-time information. Personalize your Orb to
track the stock market, weather conditions, pollen forecasts,
public opinion polls, traffic conditions, and other information
streams. Continually updated via a wireless network, it glows
green as the stock market rises, for example, and red as it
declines. Linked to the National Weather Service, it displays
spring green for comfy seventies, deep blue for chilly thirties,
and softly pulses if raining. Just plug the Orb into any
standard power outlet, call the toll free number to program your
Orb, and it is up and running on a nationwide, 24/7 wireless
network. No Internet connection is required. About $150 from the
Discovery Channel Store or direct from
Ambient (cool web site).
