Good Thinking

Tempescope brings you the weather in a box

Tempescope brings you the weather in a box
The Tempescope will physically recreate weather conditions to match the forecast
The Tempescope will physically recreate weather conditions to match the forecast
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A "snow mode" could appear in a future version
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A "snow mode" could appear in a future version
The Tempescope serves as a unique weather forecasting system for your living room
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The Tempescope serves as a unique weather forecasting system for your living room
The Tempescope will display sunshine, fog, rain and lightning
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The Tempescope will display sunshine, fog, rain and lightning
An SDK will let users develop custom applications
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An SDK will let users develop custom applications
The first prototype was created in 2012
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The first prototype was created in 2012
The device syncs with your smartphone to get the latest weather forecast
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The device syncs with your smartphone to get the latest weather forecast
To save money on manufacturing, users will need to finish assembling the device themselves with a quick few steps
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To save money on manufacturing, users will need to finish assembling the device themselves with a quick few steps
The Tempescope will physically recreate weather conditions to match the forecast
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The Tempescope will physically recreate weather conditions to match the forecast
View gallery - 8 images

A Japanese startup is raising funds through Indiegogo for Tempescope, a sleek-looking device that will fetch the weather forecast from your smartphone and recreate rain, lightning, fog and sunshine inside a clear plastic box sitting in your living room. The idea for the Tempescope first came to its inventor Ken Kawamoto after returning from a holiday in the Pacific Northwest. Wishing to take the skies back home with him, he created a prototype (out of shampoo bottles, a fan, LEDs and a mist diffuser) that could physically reproduce weather conditions in a confined space.

Kawamoto's prototype soon evolved into an open source version including step-by-step building instructions that the inventor shared with DIY enthusiasts. But since he says only a few were able to build their own successfully, Kawamoto is now turning to crowdfunding to make the Tempescope more accessible for the rest of us, while preserving the original DIY and open source spirit of the project.

In its current version, the Tempescope can recreate sunshine, rain, lightning and fog (snow could be added in a future version, but that would be years away). Syncing via Bluetooth to your Android or iOS smartphone, this clean-looking device will fetch the local weather forecast and display it in your home.

Additional modes of operation will allow users to synchronize the weather displayed to that of any location on Earth, and a "manual mode" for setting the mood.

The Tempescope serves as a unique weather forecasting system for your living room
The Tempescope serves as a unique weather forecasting system for your living room

To retain the DIY spirit of the Temposcope (and, says Kawamoto, cut manufacturing costs in half) the device will be shipped partially disassembled, so users will need to "read a very simple manual, connect a few wires together and screw together three or four components" before they can put it to work. In a similar vein, the device will also come with a software development kit, allowing tinkerers to create their own apps for added customization.

Kawamoto says the Temposcope will be obtaining wireless certification for Japan, which will automatically make the device legal to use in the US, Canada and the EU. Certification for Australia would have to be obtained separately – the creators are considering it, but have made no promise in this regard.

The device is reportedly at the working prototype stage and, barring delays due to production issues or wireless certification, deliveries are expected to begin in April 2016. Pledges for the Tempescope can be made from its Indiegogo campaign page and start at US$199 (up to $249 for a laser-engraved version), VAT and shipping not included.

You can watch the crowdfunding video below.

Source: Tempescope

tempescope - a box of rain in your living room | Indiegogo

View gallery - 8 images
7 comments
7 comments
Stephen N Russell
Great for Science education alone & reteach climate change.
POOL PUMPREAPAIR guy longwood
Water sticking to the side of the vessel is kind of dissapointing.
pwndecaf
It definitely needs real lightning, not a flashing light. That would do it for me. Very Zen!
Bob Flint
Must be REALLY BORED to waste money on a contraption like this, look out the window!!!
sk8dad
Wait...why would anyone want to take the dreary pacific northwest weather home?
John Sweet
use it as in indoor weather indicator so you know what to expect when you open the door or leave the office?
Astro_Osk
Today's real-time weather: fog with a bit of mold for good measure! Good idea.