Best Inventions of 2003

Inventor: Adam Whiton and Yolita Nugent

Ready for a shocking fashion statement? The No-Contact Jacket may look pretty fly, but it's also a piece of serious personal-defense technology. If the wearer feels threatened in any way, she (so far it's only for women) can activate a switch in either palm that blasts an 80,000-volt electrical pulse through the jacket's material. That's enough to knock anybody back a few paces. Powered by a regular 9-volt battery, the No-Contact Jacket is fully insulated, so the wearer won't feel a thing. Even when it's not in use, it crackles with tiny, visible electrical arcs that send a message. Did we mention that it looks pretty fly?

Availability: Prototype only
To Learn More: no-contact.com