TECH NOW shocker: iPhone case is a stun gun
- Yellow Jacket moonlights as a stun gun
- Self-defense gadget trend also includes pepper spray cases and more
- Stun guns are illegal to carry in several states
I get asked to test out new gadgets all the time. Whether at home or on the go, I'm constantly evaluating whether the latest "must-have" device can actually measure up in real life. Some are genius. Some are ridiculous. And some, like the new Yellow Jacket iPhone case, are just plain shocking.
A TRULY STUNNING CASE
The Yellow Jacket looks like any other durable, hard-plastic protective case. It can also recharge a quickly draining iPhone battery — adding at least one full re-charge on the go. But what's really interesting … is that the Yellow Jacket moonlights as 650,000-volt stun gun.
KNOCKS YOU ON YOUR KNEES
That's enough of an electrical shock to drop the average person to their knees in about three seconds. If used correctly, it shouldn't cause any lasting damage, because it has low amps, (less than 1.0 mA). Still, it's a serious weapon. And it hurts like hell.
When I tried it for myself, it felt like the most concentrated and intense bee-sting/needle-poke/pincer-pinch that I could ever imagine. Think of a targeted bite from an electric eel that makes all of your muscles involuntarily spasm and renders you totally useless. It's worse than that. On a scale of 1 (paper cut) to 10 (natural childbirth) I would give it a solid 8. I could not hold it to my own arm for more than a second. To a would-be attacker, the element of surprise could make it even more effective.
The $139 case, which started as a crowd-funded project on Indiegogo, is available for iPhone 4/4S with more models coming, including one for the Samsung Galaxy S4.
HOW IT WORKSAn electrical current passes between two tiny metallic pincers on the top of the case and "stings" someone when you touch them with it. When fired, it's loud, bright and painful, with the idea to put distance between you and a would-be attacker.
SAFETY FEATURESTo use it, you have to flip off an electrode safety cover, turn-on a little button on the side of the case, and hold down a trigger to send a shock. Now that I've used it, I can't imagine accidentally discharging it, and even wonder if I could get all of the safety measures off to be effective in an emergency.
SELF-DEFENSE GADGETRY TRENDThis isn't the first mass-market self-defense device to make the rounds. I've tried out the pepper spray smartphone cases, backpacks that can send a shrill scream ripping through the air with the tug of ripcord, and a small GPS device that sends the equivalent of a high Bat-Signalto save your bacon no matter where you might be.
But Yellow Jacket is definitely the most extreme I've seen so far. Carrying around something that can knock a person out in less time than it takes to ask for directions, comes with its own set of rules for responsible use and common sense. It's not a toy — stun guns are illegal to carry in several states, including New York, Illinois and Massachusetts — and you have to be 18 years old to carry one.
While I live in area that sees its fair share of home invasion robberies and bold daytime holdups, I would not add it to my own self-defense arsenal without some major education for my entire family.
What do you think of the Yellow Jacket and other high tech safety gadgets? Be sure to let us know.