Wearable airbags keep the elderly from hitting the ground so hard

Elderly? Enfeebled? Just plain clumsy? Tokyo-based Prop has your back. Its newly announced personal, wearable airbag looks like a cool fanny-pack and weighs a mere 1.1 kilograms (2.4 pounds) -- but springs forth in one-tenth of a second when sensors detect you're headed for the floor, protecting your head and ass with two inflated bags that contain 3.9 gallons of gas each. Similar to the various airbag-equipped suits already used by some motorcyclists, the airbag is yours for a cool ¥148,000 ($1,400). Or you could just not fall down.

[Thanks, Steve]

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 25th 2008 10:50AM]

This has me thinking Snow Crash

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 25th 2008 8:17AM]

Snow Crash, anyone?

Next thing we know, the U.S. will be hit with hyperinflation, and we'll all be living in Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 25th 2008 8:22AM]

Wow guys. This has been out for at least a year.

http://www.dainese.com/eng/d-air.asp

[psyclotron Posted Sep 25th 2008 9:44AM]

how'd that happen, absurdio? were you served a bad white russian at jackie treehorn's party?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 25th 2008 11:15AM]

Nice to know my ass will be protected if I fall on my face!

[psyclotron Posted Sep 25th 2008 5:02PM]

gee.. what's more likely, i was downranked for a big lebowski joke, or my stalker-crazies were busy finding anything i've done to downrank. congrats, you've fulfilled your purpose in life, scumbags

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2008 1:56AM]

And if you do fall to your demise it can double as a body bag.