Three students in Britain have won an award for their idea of a condom which would change colour in the presence of disease-causing micro-organisms such as syphilis, herpes virus, HPV, or chlamydia — STIs or Sexually Transmitted Infections. Antibodies in the rubber would link to the organisms' surfaces, leading to the appearance of a distinct colour which would indicate what pathogen was present.
http://techxplore.com/news/2015-06-uk-youths-color-changing-condom-stis.html
Here is an idea: condoms that change color when they come in contact with STIs. That is the idea from three students in the UK attending the Isaac Newton Academy in Ilford. They developed their idea into a contest entry and they won in the "Healthcare Category" in the Teen Tech Awards. Their concept is called "S.T.EYE."
Daily Mail and other sites this week reported that the material turns green if in the presence of chlamydia. Yellow indicates herpes. Purple indicates HPV (human papillomavirus) and blue, syphilis.
The three inventors are 13-to-14 year olds. Daanyaal Ali, Chirag Shah, and Muaz Nawaz hoped their invention can help the future of the next generation. Their prize includes cash and a trip to Buckingham Palace.
In a report from BBC Newsbeat, Daanyaal said that "Once the [bodily] fluids come into contact with the latex, if the person does have some sort of STI, it will cause a reaction through antibodies and antigens hanging on to each other, which triggers an antibody reaction causing a color change."
(Score: 3, Interesting) by EQ on Saturday September 19 2015, @05:04AM
Gonorrhea? Theres a nasty resistant strain going thru the northern UK right now (Im an RN now, so I have to worry about this sort of thing to be sure I check for it when we have a new patient from the UK with the appropriate symptoms).
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday September 19 2015, @05:10AM
The obvious weakness is that you have to dip your wick before you know.
Let's navigate this breakthrough into strip-testing, shall we?
(Score: 2, Funny) by Francis on Saturday September 19 2015, @05:16AM
Weakness? I'm not sure that's a weakness. Having results that quickly means that if somebody lies they'll be found out pretty much immediately. I'm not sure making this a glove would be much better.
The main weakness here is that in order to find out if the guy wearing the thing has any diseases you have to flip the thing inside out.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 19 2015, @05:34PM
Nah. Women and Men with micro-penii can use strap-on dildoes with the condom on in order to anally penetrate their partners before the main dish.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 19 2015, @11:56PM
The obvious weakness is that it has to be worn to produce any results, but the giant pro is that afterwards if there's no positive results on it you both know you can go bare for the next round.
(Score: 4, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 19 2015, @05:46AM
I remember when this news came out a couple of months ago. As far as I could tell there is no actual technical design work. It is all just an idea for something that would be cool if someone else figured out how to make it work. Might as well just wish for an app for your phone that lets you take a picture of someone and find out what STI's they have.
(Score: 2) by davester666 on Saturday September 19 2015, @07:26AM
If they actually brought the invention into school, they would be arrested for corrupting minors, indecent behaviour and child endangerment.
(Score: 4, Funny) by davester666 on Saturday September 19 2015, @07:33AM
Oops, sorry, that would only happen if they were in one of those hick states like Arkansas or Texas.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Saturday September 19 2015, @03:22PM
a condom that looks like a clock!
Yeah... that's the ticket! :)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 3, Funny) by penguinoid on Saturday September 19 2015, @04:10PM
Would you like me to give you a free STD test?
RIP Slashdot. Killed by greedy bastards.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 19 2015, @06:56AM
Typical to see muslims come up with an idea like that. Now they can rape British school girls and not risk getting infected!
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 19 2015, @10:55AM
Real Muslims get a temporary marriage (an hour or so) to a willing female, in exchange for money. There are Imam's who readily officiate in these cases.
(Score: 4, Funny) by ticho on Saturday September 19 2015, @08:03AM
"Conceive"? Come on!
(Score: 5, Interesting) by shortscreen on Saturday September 19 2015, @08:48AM
So after intercourse, one looks at this condom to find out what menu of infections one (hopefully) didn't just expose oneself to? Or should participants each masturbate with one of these condoms beforehand to prove they are safe to continue the planned activities?
(Score: 2) by mendax on Saturday September 19 2015, @06:12PM
And if it glows in the dark it's either because this guy will screw anything that moves regardless of the ooze his partner is producing or because he works in a nuclear plant and he's been putting his willy into the wrong places?
It's really quite a simple choice: Life, Death, or Los Angeles.
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Saturday September 19 2015, @10:46PM
To state what I think your point is plainly, these condoms, while interesting, are completely pointless. Well, not completely, if the condom breaks then both parties will know whether they need to get any tests or not if neither party can trust the other to tell the truth. It also serves a different role as a contraceptive by breaking up couples. For most purposes though, it doesn't seem worth the extra trouble over regular latex.
Join the SDF Public Access UNIX System today!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 19 2015, @11:55AM
A condom that solves world peace. Where's my pony?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 20 2015, @01:44AM
I mean if she gets all four, it's going to be white, right? Sorry, I myself is colour blind.