I'm sure this has been addressed in here before, but I am suggesting that the fashion industry create a line of clothing made from fiber optic fashions.
These clothes could be powered by rechargable battery packs. These battery packs could be held in specially sewn pockets, a fanny pack, or a purse. A computerized system, not unlike the system that's used on a cell phone display, could hold numerous light patterns; allowing the wearer to choose colors, photos, logos, words and even animation for their particular outfit.
The fabic has been developed already (see the links) but to my knowledge has not been released for public use.
Scenario 1: An elderly lady walking home alone after shopping. She has chest pains or becomes threatened by a mugger. She slips her hand into the pocket of her jacket, presses a button that has been pre-programed and BAM! All of a sudden her jacket begins to flash off and on in some bright color, with a written message like "HELP ME PLEASE" or "CALL 911/999".
Scenario 2: A new mother wears a shirt onto which photos of her new baby appear.
Scenario 3: A hip young man goes to a disco and his suit pulsates to the beat of the music; diplaying various patterns and hues. He could program a message to appear occasionally, such as "Hi, I'm Mike and I'm available. Ask me to dance". Similar clothing could be designed for women.
Scenario 4: A young child becomes separated from his parents. His mother becomes desperate and with her phone summon's the child's jacket to activate--flashing bright colors and displaying a message such as "I'm lost, please help me. Please call this number {garment displays mother's cell phone number}.
The possibilities are endless.-- veryvermilion, Aug 01 2004 i.weiss.com http://www.i-weiss....urtains/fiberoptic/Theatrical curtains containing fiber optics [veryvermilion, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004] optics.org http://optics.org/articles/news/8/10/11/1A fiber optic designer gown [veryvermilion, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004] Fiber optics in clothing http://optics.org/a.../7/1/1#francefiber1 [veryvermilion, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004] Fiber Optic Halloween Costume http://www.hallowee...prods/rub10681.html [veryvermilion, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004] Luminex (This is the BEST link) http://www.luminex.it/ [veryvermilion, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004] Newphenix Fiber Optics Ties http://www.newphenix.com.cn/ties.htmHey, don't forget the tacky tie possibilities. (Darn---they don't have one that says "Kiss Me Honey".) [Ander, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004] //A hip young man goes to a disco//
Oh Lord.....-- ConsulFlaminicus, Aug 02 2004 "CALL 911/999" ... "Hang on old lady! I just got to find a phone with a forward slash button..."-- luecke, Aug 02 2004 Fine. Great. But a little fiber optic trivia for you. The military is working on fiber optic garments that the fibers wrap around the wearer 180 degrees. Many fiber ends are presented no matter which way the wearer is turned. When you look at the wearer, you see what's behind him. If that could work without being brighter or dimmer than ambient light, you have very effective camoflage. I can even imagine the wearer being nearly invisible, like the alien creature in the Schwarznegger movie "Predator".-- bobad, Aug 02 2004 Oh yeah, I read about fiber optic camouflage in National Geographic. Brilliant invention. Yet I can't shake the image of my aunt's tacky fiber optic christmas tree from my mind.-- Machiavelli, Aug 02 2004 [bobad] they are developing a similar system for tanks. Although this uses little cameras and screens not entirely unlike the Aston in Die Another Day.-- Sattamassagana, Aug 03 2004 random, halfbakery