Vest Offers a Different Kind of Security

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts are developing a vest that uses air pressure to give wearers a hug, bringing a sense of security to those with autism or anxiety, reports the Boston Globe. They could be used in place of physical restraints for some unstable patients, potentially. There have been "hug machines" and "hug vests" developed before, but the latter have used weights, not air pressure, so they are not as light and comfortable as the new design.