USA: A SHOCKING NEW DESIGN FROM TWO YOUNG AMERICAN INVENTORS A WOMEN'S JACKET THAT DELIVERS AN ELECTRIC SHOCK

Record ID: 231080

  • Title: USA: A SHOCKING NEW DESIGN FROM TWO YOUNG AMERICAN INVENTORS A WOMEN'S JACKET THAT DELIVERS AN ELECTRIC SHOCK
  • Date: 27th February 2004
  • Summary: (L!1)CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 9, 2003) (REUTERS) DESIGNER YOLITA NUGENT WALKING INTO ROOM WEARING SHOCKING JACKET, TAKES IT OFF AND PLACES IT ON MANNEQUIN VARIOUS MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY RESEARCHER ADAM WHITON AND NUGENT, EXAMINING JACKET IN LAB NUGENT ACTIVATING JACKET BY TURNING KEY (SOUNDBITE) (English) NUGENT SAYING: "As soon as I press that switch the jacket is now electrified." NUGENT'S HAND PRESSING SWITCH ELECTRICAL BLUE SPARKS COMING FROM FRONT OF JACKET (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHITON SAYING: "It just causes sort of pain, and it causes sort of involuntary muscle jerks, if you were to grab it you'd tend to release it right away, and your arms go back and your hands go back." BATTERY BEING PLACED INSIDE JACKET JACKET ON MANNEQUIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) NUGENT SAYING: "When you are afraid a natural response is to clench your fists so we thought well why don't we have the switch where your hand is and concealed so other people will not see it, but accessible to you so that you can immediately activate this device, when you need to use it." VARIOUS WHITON WORKING IN LAB WITH ELECTRICAL WIRES (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHITON SAYING: "We're sort of trying to go side by side with the wearable MP3 players to say there are more serious issues out there, there are more problems in society that maybe this technology, the wearable technology can address, it certainly won't solve, this won't solve the problem violence towards women, but it might be able to cope with it." WHITON AND NUGENT, WEARING SHOCKING JACKET, WALKING IN STREET (2.13)
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSSETS, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA8YIRCKSRYSDMU2KXXJFRQ1Q2L
  • Story Text: A shocking new design from two young American inventors, a women's jacket that delivers a harsh electrical jolt to would-be attackers.
    Yolita Nugent looks like she's wearing a regular jacket, it's simple, black and stylish but should anyone try to attack her, they'd receive a nasty shock.
    The jacket is wired to deliver an 80,000-volt shock at the press of a button by its wearer. It was invented by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Adam Whiton, his girlfriend Nugent, designed the figure-hugging coat.
    They call it the "no contact" jacket, and hope it will help to protect women against assault, robbery and rape.
    Turning a key at the base of the left-hand sleeve activates the jacket, but it doesn't actually deliver the shock until a button on the inside of right-hand sleeve is pressed down.
    Nugent says it gives women confidence when walking alone at night, "as soon as I press that switch the jacket is now electrified".
    Think of it as a little like being encased in a wearable stun gun, the technology works on the same principle as the hand-held devices.
    A single nine volt battery is placed inside the jacket, numerous wires are concealed beneath the fabric, and a rubber inner lining, high collars and long sleeves protect the wearer from being shocked.
    If anyone grabs at the jacket they'll receive a shock akin to putting your fingers in an electrical wall socket.
    Whiton, who tested it a few times during development, now refuses to voluntarily shock himself, "It just causes sort of pain, and it causes sort of involuntary muscle jerks, if you were to grab it you'd tend to release it right away, and your arms go back and your hands go back."
    The pair put their heads together to design the shocking jacket after learning that in America alone one woman is raped every six seconds, according to FBI statistics.
    They spent months analysing the mind-set of a woman walking alone a night and feeling nervous to make the jacket as easy to use as possible.
    "When you are afraid a natural response is to clench your fists so we thought well why don't we have the switch where your hand is and concealed so other people will not see it but accessible to you so that you can immediately activate this device, when you need to use it" said Nugent.
    A handful of prototypes have been made and the pair have had a lot of interest from distributors, especially in countries like South Africa and Brazil where crime is high, but as yet have not found a manufacturer.
    Right now the cost of each jacket is around $950 but they hope to eventually produce them for $300. As yet there is no law regulating the 'no contact' jacket, but it is assumed the same state laws covering stun-guns would apply.
    It's the latest in a new trend of so-called intelligent clothing - a marrying of the technology and apparel industries. But unlike many other recent inventions, such as MP3 players or cell phones built into clothing and bags, the shocking jacket aims to use technology to tackle a social problem, using the vehicle of clothing.
    "We're sort of trying to go side-by-side with the wearable MP3 players to say there are more serious issues out there" said Whiton, adding "there are more problems in society that maybe this technology, the wearable technology can address, it certainly won't solve, this won't solve the problem violence towards women, but it might be able to cope with it."
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