Urbanoia Design Group Announces Prototype Smart-Tent Designed for Texas Parks

AUSTIN, Texas--(Business Wire)--December 16, 2004-- Urbanoia Design Group (ur-ban-oi-ya) has released a prototype design for a tent specifically designed for use in five Texas state parks -- Choke Canyon State Park (Calliham) near Three Rivers, Blanco State Park near Blanco, Balmorhea State Park near Toyahvale, Goose Island State Park near Rockport, and Ray Roberts Lake State Park (Isle du Bois) near Pilot Point. The smart-tent, called the "[Anti] Cell-Tent", is light-weight, waterproof, and easily transportable and provides a wireless communications-free zone of 30-50 meters around the tent. Tents can be grouped to provide larger zones of silence.

With the introduction of wireless Internet access to state parks announced yesterday in a joint press release by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and TengoInternet to the once technology-free natural environment of our public lands, it has become necessary to provide the camper who is trying to remove themselves from the pressures and rigors of our hyper-connected society a means for ensuring a restful sojurn into the woods. Those wishing to engage the sounds of the wild instead of the sounds of ringing telephones, televisions, and radios are the target market for the new product.

"Urbanoia is excited to work on such a project that allows visitors to the state parks in Texas a chance to visit the park instead of visiting web sites," said Jonathan Smith and Riley Triggs, co-CEOs of Urbanoia Design Group. "Urbanoia has developed a reputation for providing excellent architectural and design solutions to contemporary issues in our urbanized society, and now we have extended that service to those urbanites wishing to have the option of truly being unconnected for the duration of their stay at our valued state parks system."

"We are continually looking for ways to improve the quality of life of the public. This is a great opportunity for Urbanoia to help park patrons and to demonstrate our commitment to the environment - both urban and natural. We are excited to have this opportunity to work in the places we like to play in Texas."

The tent is designed out of space-age materials. Printable solar cells being developed by Konarka Technologies (http://www.konarkatech.com) made from plastic and nano-based materials cover the entire surface of single wall rip-stop fabric creating a giant solar collector to power the fully-integrated technologies of the tent. Colors and patterns are developed using sophisticated computer imaging softwares and tranfered directly to the assembly line via internet. The entire project was designed, developed and administered via cell phone and internet messaging as well as e-mail communications by associates around the state. The prototype design was first presented to the public at gardenLAb in Pasedena, CA in October.

Urbanoia Design Group is the oldest designer of highly mobile, technology-integrated camping tents in the state. Headquartered in Austin with associates in Dallas and Houston, Urbanoia has earned a reputation for creating happy campers by repeatedly offering a less-connected, more enjoyable camping experience and by fullfilling campers needs with economical and smart tent designs. Urbanoia is currently working towards these goals throughout the state.

For more information including images, please visit www.urbanoia.com. For more information about Urbanoia Design Group and their building and design services and products, please call 512-636-3521 or email info@urbanoia.com. For overnight camping reservations at a Texas state park, please call 512-389-8100. For general state park information, call 1-800-792-1112.