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A Vest to Hug You

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the hey-buddy-hug-you dept.

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."

6 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. Eeeh... by Olix · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Being a nerd, I will admit to being somewhat inexperienced on this subject, but it is my opinion that a hug is about being close to someone and feeling their warmth, not being sqeezed by an air compressor...

    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. Re:Eeeh... by Billosaur · · Score: 5, Insightful

      However, for an autistic individual, sometimes the simple pressure on the skin provides a calming effect, or is a stimulus they require to maintain control. I worked with the autistic and developmentally disabled for 8 years; I had many a client who required some kind of tactile stimulus, either as constant input (self-stimulatory behavior) or for behavioral control (comfort). This is ideal, as it would be a lot less obtrusive than some of the ways we came up with to provide such stimulation.

      --
      GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network
  2. 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!"
  3. Hugging machines by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here's the original hug machine the story refers to, if you're interested.
    http://grandin.com/inc/intro-squeeze.html
    Of course, Dr. Grandin also designs slaughterhouses.