MIT MAKING CLOTHES FOR ABUSED WOMEN

Posted on December 6, 2009 by

abused-woman101Once in a while, an idea so resonates that it is impossible to ignore as its uniqueness and relevance is clear. This is the case, even though the technological bases for the idea may not be that new. Often times, it is a concept which creates a new and valuable use for existing technology. Such is the case with a group of MIT researchers who are working on creating sensor embedded women’s clothing which would record assaults upon them and store the data in a computer. While it would not protect women from abuse, it could help to prove that the abuse occurred. Yoda Patta, a doctoral student in materials engineering born and raised in Indonesia, says she got sick of reading about acid attacks against women and girls in such countries as afghanistan and Pakistan, as reported by Nick Kristoff in The New York Times. Patta recruited hima nd his wife writer Sheryl WuDunn to create a program at MIT to find ways to stop violence against women. Patta believes that the proliferation of the internet in countrie with repressive regimes will spread the word about women’s conditions in order to help rally international opinion. If only they could embed digital cameras in the clothing to catch the perpetrators in the act. Much should be said about this lateral thinking. It is sure the wave of the future as technology in and of itself is devoid and without meaning, until relevance and meaning is recognized by individuals like Yoda Patta at MIT.

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