Wearable Airbags

But do they come with that new car smell?:

This month the Japanese company Prop begins selling a wearable set of air bags [for the elderly] to protect against falls. The device looks something like a fishing vest with a fanny pack attached. When its built-in motion sensors detect a fall, it inflates two air bags — one around the hips, the other around the neck — in a 10th of a second. Instant Michelin Man. It retails in Japan for approximately $1,400.

(Hat tip: Tyler Cowen)