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A Vest to Hug You

Roland Piquepaille writes "In "New vest offers wearer a portable hug," the Boston Globe reports that engineers at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst have designed a vest to help people suffering from autism or high anxiety. This inflatable vest has pockets that hold air bladders and is powered by 10 AA batteries. When you push a button, the vest squeezes — or hugs — you. Now the engineers also want to know if their vest is effective — apparently a premiere. So they're testing it with both students and psychatric patients. So far, it's just a prototype, but read more for additional details and a picture of this hugging vest."

4 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Eeeh... by neurostar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sometimes you gotta take the love you can get I guess.

  2. Re:Eeeh... by dptalia · · Score: 4, Funny
    it is my opinion that a hug is about being close to someone and feeling their warmth

    So you're saying they need to add heating elements to their vest? One moment while I fill out a patent....

    --
    Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, which is why engineers sometimes smell really bad.
  3. Shorts to Stroke You by Ranger · · Score: 4, Funny

    If they are going to design biomechanical clothing, they might as well design a pair of shorts to massage your lower torso. They would be very popular with slashdotters who still live with their parents:

    Bobby: Calls through closed bathroom door "I need to get another pair of massage shorts this pair is almost worn out."

    Mother: "Why Bobby, that's your third pair of massage shorts this month you've worn out."

    Son: *silence*

    Mother: "Bobby, what are you doing in there." knocks on door "Open this door this instance."

    Bobby: "Go away. I'm brushing my teeth. Yeah, that's it, brushing my teeth."

    --
    "You'll get nothing, and you'll like it!"
  4. Re:Eeeh... by smithmc · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sometimes you gotta take the love you can get I guess.

    And if you can't be with the vest you love, honey, love the vest you're with...

    --
    Downmodding is the refuge of the weak. Don't downmod, make a better argument!