Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Interesting article

Snarfed from Reuters:

Are you a woman going solo? Try a blow-up man

LONDON (Reuters) - He fits in a car's glove box, appears at a flick of a switch and when a woman has finished using him, she can just pull the plug and he deflates.

He's the "Buddy on Demand," a blow-up man launched on Tuesday with the aim of making solo female motorists feel less nervous about driving at night.

According to research by the inflatable friend's creator, insurer Sheilas' Wheels, 82 percent of women feel safer with someone sitting in the car beside them and nearly a half don't like driving alone in the dark.

"We're not saying that an inflatable man is the only answer but we do hope it will give women extra confidence and make journeys in the dark less fearful," said Jacky Brown, the spokeswoman for Sheilas' Wheels.
(original article appears here)

This sounds kind of cool-- but I'd hold out for the inflatable doll that can do the driving for you, for those long road trips. "I'm kind of tired, could you take the wheel for awhile? (not to mention he's probably a better driver than I am too)

Current Music: Ambrosia - A Fool Like Me

6 comments:

:P fuzzbox said...

I can't help but think of the autopilot in Airplane when reading this story.

Perplexio said...

fuzzbox: The picture posted with the original article only serves to reinforce that mental image!

Green Eyes said...

Well, hey, you mean I'd feel safer and more sane, because at least then people would think I'm talking to my "friend" instead of myself! lol

Susan as Herself said...

Sounds intriguing....and I must admit that I can't help hoping "my buddy" is willing to do more than just sit there. (Heehee.)

Perplexio said...

Green Eyes: There's another model for male drivers that plays pre-recorded messages: "Why don't you stop and ask for directions?" and "Could you please stop at the next rest area? I really need to use the loo."

Susan: I would think it would come in handy in a bar setting as well to ward off any untoward overtures from less-than-desireable male specimens that might choose to hit on you. It would make quite an interesting "cock-blocker" so to speak...

You may have to wait awhile for the model that does the dishes, laundry, and minor household repairs though.

Snooze said...

Sigh. Another marketing gimmick to have women unnecessarily scared. Women should carry a cell phone and a quick tire repair filler thing; I think it's a major false sense of security having an inflatable guy next to you. Women I've heard of being attacked are usually stalked from a rest stop so I don't see how inflatable dude would help. I don't think there are many weirdos out cruising around looking for women driving on their own.