This fluffy children's playsuit by Royal College of Art graduate Helge Fischer sounds an alarm if the child is touched inappropriately.
Called Safe Cuddling, the garment emits flashing lights and alarm bells with escalating intensity if the wearer is touched for too long or in inappropriate places.
Here's some more information from the designer:
SAFE CUDDLING
The 'Safe Cuddling' suit allows for the innocent cuddling of children by helping adults to maintain their integrity.
When the child wearing the suit is touched for too long or in inappropriate areas of the body an alarm goes off (flashlights and bells!), first gently hinting to potential ambiguities, finally assertively reminding the parent or care-taker and others around of their responsibility.
Does our desire to eliminate uncertainties and avoid risk lead us to become even more fearful? Can humour be an appropriate tool for challenging dark and uncomfortable social issues?
I then went out and showed the design proposal to parents, child minders and a child protection professional. What was originally intended as an ironic comment became a lot more complex.
The suit acted as a tool to spark debate about rational and irrational fears, about risks, technology, the media and attitudes within (the UK) society towards children's safety.
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| Els Woldhek at RCA Show |
Ben Faga at RCA Show |
Julian Bond at RCA Show |
genius!!!
It 's a little papoose, how adorable !
this is possibly the most ridiculous thing i have ever seen, ironic or not.
Very disturbing to think you would need something like this. Just had a baby myself but would not think to use this. Fake safety same as terrorists action prevention.
Nathan, I agree –
do we have to invest in paranoia or in an adequate cultivation of all members of society? Very disturbing indeed.
Loses some of its practicality due to the fact that it will get dirty very quickly
This is taking the piss surely?
If it is, then I find it quite amusing and en excellent commentary on our off the rails, paedophilia obsessed society.
Otherwise it's still an excellent commentary on our paedophilia obsessed society.
Good luck trying to figure out if there may be a wet / dirty nappy – may need another sensor and alarm! Successful Art piece which in a way capturers the zeitgeist in the fear the public feel about sexual predators / terrorists / pedophiles ect I guess.
"The suit acted as a tool to spark debate about rational and irrational fears, about risks, technology, the media and attitudes within (the UK) society towards children’s safety"
the artist has aspirations anyway!
You seem to be the first commentor to realize (even though it states it plainly in the article) that it's an art piece and not an actual product.
I don't see how it could work properly.
What happens if the kid sits on a play horse for 10s?
The parent will run around and switch it off and on all the time?
Oh – maybe it has a remote control!
I assume this is a joke got out of hand but this is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen. How is anyone supposed to change a nappy? Talk about living in a nanny state!
thats really cute and pratical!
Baby-sized Bop It!
this is actually really creepy.
The person who designed this came to a fork in the road: Become a catholic priest or design this suit.
an utterly ridiculous and disturbing idea
this is b@ll@cks
i have an 18 month old daughter, and i'm telling you that the only way to effectively hold on to a wriggling excitable toddler is by having your hands on either the 'ambiguous or avoid' areas
chocolate fireguard anyone?
it's tongue in cheek, not a serious design
so the kid is not allowed to sit!!! Is it human touch sensitive?
Maybe this could be used only for adult factory workers who exceed their cigarette break…?
Shocking! A deadly cocktail of puritanism and high tech gadgetry…
Is it me or is this kid wrapped in cotton wool both physically and metaphorically?! … I find this very odd indeed…
Minus the bleeping and flashing it's rather a sweet outfit for a child.
Perhaps more work should be done on making children look like polar bear cubs. I feel this is a growth area.
i love british humour.
Fucking paranoiac
The designer need a shrink.
are you serious???
OH MY GOD! Is that what RCA is about now? I mean the thematic has an issue right now, but come on… for what that suit. FOR WHAT??
sick and stupid
i like the outfit…haha
Lock the designer up! Probably based in the UK?
mom! Johnny set off his alarm again…
unbelievable…..
keep your EYES on your kids when you're in public!
Before people get all hot under the collar or reach for the sick bag, do take a moment to check out Fischer's site via the link. What we have here is a very clever artist who is exploring, quote: "…design that recognises (and celebrates!) the absurd and comic inherent in our existence". He calls his practice 'satirical interaction design'. By examining his other work, this piece can then be considered in a better perspective and should not be seen as a literal commercial proposition.
I assume it's a "art" right? So please don not take this seriously. Next time the artist will make a baby vault.
So the whole thing about the suit is a farce? That’s good.
Anyway, the suit itself is very cute, giving the child the appearance of a polar bear cub or a lamb. The idea behind it is fear mongering.
makes the little kids look like sheep so it ought to be banned in new zealand and wales for baiting