This stuff is really easy but the cloth is very expensive. A layer of titanium mesh or stainless steel mesh is a very effective Faraday Cage. This is why they use it in electric fencing lames (pronounced Lah-MAY, it's a protective coat for sparring with fencing weapons) for electronic scoring. The tip of a weapon completes the circuit when it touches the opponent's lame(that's what the cords hanging at the duelist's backsides are when you see it in the Olympics). I would bet this jacket/vest be prohibitively expensive for a long time. Of course the price would be right for any criminal though.....oh well the cost of progress.

whiteknight

Don't bother tasing me, bro!

CaseyG

Who said this is for protection from cops tasering you? What about all the civilians who are buying tasers these days? I am def more afraid of a civilian getting taser happy than a cop. I'm sure not all of them bought them for legal use? Like Gang members/robbers/kidnappers...... Besides if taser bought the patent....well there are ways around patent laws. Maybe a post on lifehacker: How to make a trendy taser proof jacket/pants/boxers/thong.

Jonathan21

You know,I won't really defend Mr. Meyer for that incident at UF, since he was pretty clearly trying to provoke an incident.

However, I will say as native to Gainesville, FL and who grew-up around the University of FLorida, the UF police department (UPD) is frequently heavy-handed, abusive, stupid and foolish.
Yes, all at once.

I suspect the most likely outcome from a jacket like this would be to increase the voltage/amperage of the tasers.

Jeff the Riffer

I'm sure if this guy actually began development of this, TASER corp. would just buy the patent off him and not develop it.

deedrit

...although this does answer, once and for all, the question of why you need to carry a gun.

junyo

If a cop has decided to tase you, he/she believes that you've done something that justifies the use of force. As has been pointed out, the next step along the use of force escalation would be a gun. You honestly think they're gonna be like "Well, we can't seem to tase him, so i guess we'll go back to eating doughnuts..."?
So unless this thing is bulletproof, or you're prepared to disarm/disable the officer while he's trying to figure out why the taser didn't work, all this item does is move you from a potentially unwarranted tasing, to a potentially unwarranted hollowpoint. Yeah, so much better.

junyo

Hey, as long as they don't tase me in the EYE like those crazy Canadian Mountys, then I'll take two. Does it come in black? I might want one for more formal occasions :)

davidfbecker

Need to combine protection from Tazer and that Pain-Ray gun that's also being developed. Shouldn't be too hard, one uses electricity, the other uses RF.

newgalactic

Don't taste me bro.

But seriously folks, a wearable faraday cage is all the rage these days! Nothing like the luxurious feel of brass mesh to get your naughty parts a growin'

For use in HS? Just like the Bulletproof backpack. Parents, go home and learn your kids up good already!

qbrad

if fig.1 item 10 is captioned "reverses polarity", im sold.

slumlord

That's right, if a cop can't take you down by Taser, you risk your ass getting shot. I'd rather be tasered and risk the shock killing me.

firetwuck

How about just not being a stupid ahole and don't get yourself in that prediciment of tasing.

gizmodohomepage

I think a Giz-style caption is required for that illustration, something along the lines of:
"Don't taze me, bro!"

med

Looking at the protection the jacket gives, I'm thinking...

BOOM! Headshot!

Now, how much would that suck, getting tased in the head?

AZTriGuy

Is Wayne Enterprise finally funding this project?

Escamotage

what will protect the user from the "10"s and "5"s being lobbed at them though?

Cassifras

The sad thing is that I feel like it would actually be a good idea to own one of these...I wish that wasn't the case.

sorensilk

In fact, what will happen is that the cop will get pissed and pull out his REAL piece and then pop a cap in yo' ass.

wbremner

Won't work if the cop's aim is to "taze yer ass, boy".

wbremner

Law to prevent the sale of this item in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

mdmadph

i don't think the average school yard bully becomes cop will think this funny.

greysky

Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
Theyre going to destroy
Our casual joys
We shall go on playing
Or find a new town

Yeah!

Strange eyes fill strange rooms
Voices will signal their tired end
The hostess is grinning
Her guests sleep from sinning
Hear me talk of sin
And you know this is it

Yeah!

Strange days have found us
And through their strange hours
We linger alone
Bodies confused
Memories misused
As we run from the day
To a strange night of stone

strider_mt2k

I'm not too familiar with being tasered but couldn't you just wear several layers of clothing if you thought you were doing something likely to result in getting tazed? Maybe some nice thick Carhart overalls or something? Or maybe a wetsuit?

Derrick

Please tase me bro.

Type-E

Would this "energy weapon protection device" also be effective against Lightsabers?

Jeff_McAwesome

Don't tase me, bro!

sidepocket

Great, now they'll aim for your groin instead.

andrebasso

Now that's what I'm talking about!

SBM_from_LA

@gizmodohomepage: yea, why try to exercise the rights promised us under the constitution when it would be easier to just make fun of the people on the internet for trying to do the same.

mwalker05

So, forget the taser...just shoot the bastards.

Seriously, though...what does society expect law enforcement officers do...deliberately place themselves into harm's way with no means to protect themselves short of shooting someone?

Can't use batons because they break bones and cause bruising.

Can't use pepper spray because someone will claim it hurts their eyes.

Can't use guns because that's too deadly for a less than deadly force situation.

So, what's left? Cops being forced to go to Marquis de Queensbury boxing rules?

Give me a break...

shooter