Safe sex and contraception are awkward subjects for many people, especially when it comes time to actually practicing them. In a moment that's all about maintaining the mood, nothing can spoil the romance like struggling to pry open a condom wrapper like a bag of airline peanuts. With that in mind, imagine what a minefield a night of intimacy could be for someone suffering from hemiplegia, a somewhat common disorder that causes paralysis on one side of the body. That's why one designer developed the One-Handed Condom, an easy-open contraceptive that can be flicked open just by snapping it between two fingers.
Designer Benjamin Pawle came up with the concept for the condom as part of a project called "Preserving Human Dignity," which seeks to create simple solutions for people with hemiplegia to handle common tasks. After creating a game that teaches hemiplegic children to use buttons by creating cloth armor, Pawle turned his attention to problems that might arise for adults.
Without the full use of two hands, opening an ordinary condom wrapper often leaves hemiplegic males resorting to either ripping it with their teeth or asking their companion to open it for them – two methods that risk damaging the condom or at least adding some unwanted awkwardness. Pawle hopes an easy-open condom might help young adults avoid any added embarrassment and boost their confidence as they start to become sexually active.
The One-Handed Condom's wrapper has a perforated seam along the front and a small ridge to grip it easily. A thin plastic membrane lines the inside of the foil to keep the condom intact. All a person has to do is slide their thumb over the front to break the seal and the condom slips right out, ready to use. It takes just a few seconds to go from wrapper to wrapped in one fluid motion and looks much smoother than opening a regular condom, almost a little stylish in fact.
The One-Handed Condom will be on display, along with the rest of Pawle's Preserving Human Dignity project at the Victoria & Albert Museum as part of the London Design Festival from September 14-23.
Check out the video below to see how the One-Handed Condom can be put to use with just a snap of the fingers.
Source: Ben Pawle
