By Logan French

Moving out from behind the computer in Silicon Valley and jumping directly into latex

                The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has recently found a new way to help control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and to increase the pregnancy protection by challenging designers young and old to redesign the everyday condom.

                Condoms have been used in many different styles as far back as the 1800’s, where sheep intestine was used, which later proved ineffective.

                The challenge placed forward was not to develop a new trick or feature of a condom that will increase sales, but to have the designers make changes to the blueprints that will increase condom use worldwide.

                Condoms are extremely effective at preventing the spread of STD’s or unwanted pregnancies.

                They are also frequently downplayed and disavowed as the beliefs range from that they block the intimacy one feels with their partner to that the couple does not have the time in the throws of passion to don a prophylactic.

                To answer these complaints, designers came up with a plethora of ideas.

                Kibranix Ltd in South America invented a condom that is in a wrapper where the center breaks into two halves that allow the condom to be pulled on in one swift downward motion after breaking the seal over the tip of the penis and pulling it down over the head and shaft in a second or less.

                The proposal from the Cambridge Design Partnership presented a “one size fits all condom” that looks like a sword’s hilt and with the hole in the middle where the penis fits and the size of the condom expands and contracts before, during, and after intercourse.

                The result presented from Avaraind Vijayaraghavan and the University of Manchester United Kingdom scientists have made a new type of material to where elastomeric or stretching materials in the condom will allow for a more sensual and real feeling during intercourse.

                There were more than 800 entries worldwide and some of the aforementioned include the top eleven that were set to share the $100,000 in grants and monies to continue their research.

                Also, the most effective technologies will be given a $1,000,000 grant to improve their replication and distribution around the world.

                DSU Hornets are encouraged to practice the best decision making in all aspects of life, not just from The Hornet, but from the entire DSU family.

                Would you try these new tweaks to the design of a “normal” condom?

                Do you think the new designs hold any merit?

                How do you think the public will react to these new tools?

                Do you have any suggestions on the topic?

                Leave your ideas and tips in the reservoir below!

University of Manchester’s approach. Photo retrieved from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The “Rapidom” from Kimbranox Ltd. Photo retrieved from the Bill and Melnda Gates Foundation.

The Cambridge Design Partnership proposal. Photo retrieved from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.