An American home security brand has launched a tech-enabled Christmas jumper that has alarms which will go off whenever someone comes within six feet of you.
SimpliSafe launched the jumper as a way of promoting social distancing during the festive season.
The blue and white crew neck jumper features the words “SimpliSafe” across it with festive prints on the sleeves and chest.
The “social distancing sweater”, as it’s called, has been fitted with motion sensors that are triggered when someone comes within six feet of the wearer, resulting in a loud siren and flashing LED lights.
The jumper is not available for sale at this stage and is only a prototype.
However, SimpliSafe has pledged to give away a small number of replicas that do not include the motion sensors, in the hope that consumers will buy these separately from its website and install them themselves, with the help of its DIY tech-install manual.
SimpliSafe has released a promotional video for the jumper, which shows relatives trying to hug someone wearing the social distancing sweater at home over Christmas.
As expected, when the relative gets too close, the siren goes off.
"Heading into the holiday season, it became clear that the typical stressors and logistics of the holidays were going to be exacerbated this year," said Wade Devers, creative director at SimpliSafe.
"We saw an opportunity to tap into these challenges and the pervasive sentiment of unease. As the experts on protection, albeit home protection, we wanted to give people a playful way to protect themselves during this year's holiday celebrations.
"It's really meant to bring some lightheartedness to a time that's otherwise proven very stressful."
